MIDDLE-HORNED CATTLE HOLSTEIX FRIESIANS. 727 



region. Holland has been noted for dairy products for at least a thousand 

 years, and the great bicolored beasts upon which this reputation has been 

 gained have been slowly but surely developing their present form of dairy 

 excellence. 



These cattle have been know^n by several different names in both 

 Europe and America. "Holland cattle," "North Hollanders," "Dutch 

 cattle," "Holsteins," "Dutch-Friesians," "Nietherland cattle," and 

 "Holstein-Friesians" are all the same. There was sharp contention in 

 this country before the last name was agreed upon and generally accepted. 

 It seems unfortunate that the simpler and sufficiently descriptive and 

 accurate name of "Dutch cattle" was not adopted. 



The large frame, strong bone, abundance of flesh, silken coat, extreme 

 docility, and enormous milk yield of the Holstein-Friesians result from 

 the rich and luxuriant herbage of the very fertile and moist reclaimed 

 lands upon which the breed has been perfected, the uncommonly good 

 oare received from their owners and the close association of people and 

 cattle. The Roman dominion brought improvements in draining and 

 diking, in methods of cultivation and of cattle breeding, but no mixture 

 of blood occurred with the inhabitants or in their herds. The preserva- 

 tion of the Friesian people and their continued adhesion to cattle breeding 

 for more than two thousand years is one of the marvels of history. Always 

 few in number, the conflicts of war and commerce have raged over and 

 around them, yet they have remained in or near their original home, con- 

 tinuously following their original pursuits. Their farmhouses are 

 fashioned after the same general model; the one immense roof covers 

 everything that requires protection. Here the cattle find shelter during 

 the long and rigorous winter months. Here they are fed and groomed 

 and watched for months without being turned from the door. Here the 

 family is also sheltered, sometimes wnth only a single partition between 

 the cattle stalls and the kitchen and living room. Evervthing is kept 

 with a degree of neatness marvelous to those not accustomed to such sys- 

 tem. The cattle become the pets of the household. At the opening of 

 spring or when grass is sufficiently grown they are taken to the fields and 

 cared for in the most quiet manner. Oanvas covers protect their bodies 

 from sun and storm and insects. The grasses upon which they feed are 

 rich and luxurious, and the animals have to move about very little to 

 gather sufficient food. On the first appearance of winter they are returned 

 to the stable and the simple round of the year is completed. This round 

 is repeated until the cattle are 6 or 7 years of age, when they are usually 

 considered as pa.st the period of dairy profit and are sent to the shambles. 

 The object is always to produce as much milk and beef as possible from 

 the same animal. With this twofold object in view, selection, breeding, 

 and feeding have been continued for ages." 



