276 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



fairly close to the belly. In some cases the udder attains 

 immense size and capacity. 



There are three recognized types of this breed: 



(a) The thin-fleshed, wedge-shaped type; 



(b) Those that carry somewhat more flesh; and 



(c) Those that are rather broad over the withers and 

 thick in the quarters, and show more beefiness than dairy 

 cattle men usually admire. 



Many persons approve the medium between the two 

 extremes, if the cow is a satisfactory producer of milk. An 

 animal of beefy form, with a thick pair of thighs, is not to be 

 commended. Among the noted Holstein-Friesian sires one 

 finds extremes in type, some animals possessing conforma- 

 tion that is far from what might be regarded as ideal. 



The milk of the Holstein-Friesian is about average, or 

 below, in quality, not being noted for butter-fat content. 

 But in production of quantity of milk, this breed leads all 

 others in a marked degree. A large number of cows have 

 produced yields of over 100 pounds of milk in a day, 

 Cascade Johanna Illustrites having the remarkable record of 

 161.4 pounds in 1 day and 3,546 pounds in 30 days. There 

 are many records of over 25,000 pounds of milk in a year. 

 Most remarkable among these is that of Tilly Alcartra, a 

 California cow that has produced in eight consecutive yearly 

 records a total of 201,138 pounds of milk, a yearly average 

 of 25,142 pounds. The greatest yearly production of milk 

 by a cow of the breed was by Segis Pietertje Prospect, of 

 37,381 pounds, completed in 1921. 



Holstein-Friesian milk usually contains a small per cent 

 of fat, 3 per cent being common, and 4 per cent unusual for 

 cows not being in official test. Breeders, however, are 

 steadily improving the breed in this respect, so that no 

 doubt there will be an improvement in the average amount 

 of fat. On account of the large milk yield, however, the 

 butter-fat in one day may amount to a very important total. 



