728 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



This condensed description of the origin, development, and home treat- 

 ment of this breed of cattle goes far toward explaining the characteristics 

 of the breed as seen in this country. 



The early Dutch settlers in America undoubtedly brought their favorite 

 cattle with them during the seventeenth century, and there are definite 

 records of three or four importations prior to 1850 ; but the credit of first 

 introducing this breed to America and maintaining it« purity here is due 

 to Winthrop W. Chenery, of Massachusetts. He made three importations 

 between 1857 and 1862. The Messrs. Gerrit S. and Dudley Miller, of New 

 York, followed in 1867, and soon thereafter numerous others brought 

 animals of this breed in considerable numbers to the United States. They 

 have increased rapidly by importations and by breeding, and are now to 

 be found in nearly all parts of this country, 



XXII. Characteristics. 



The striking features in the appearance of this breed are the color mark- 

 ings of black and white and the large size of the animals of both sexes. 

 The shining jet black contrasts vividly with the pure white, the fine, silky 

 hair being upon a soft and mellow skin of medium thickness. In some 

 animals the black predominates, and the white in others. Black has been 

 rather preferred among American breeders, to the almost entire exclusion 

 of white in some cases, yet a few very noted animals have been mainly 

 white. The average animal carries rather more black than white, and the 

 distribution and outlines of the markings are extremely irregular. The 

 black and white are never mixed, the lines of demarcation being usually 

 sharply drawn. In Europe there are still some red cattle in this breed, 

 and occasionally a purely bred calf is dropped in this country with bright 

 red instead of black, showing the influence of some remote ancestor; but 

 none are admitted to the American Herd Book except those black and 

 white. In size the Holsteins are the largest of all the dairy breeds. The 

 big, bony frames are usually well filled out, and the chest, abdomen, and 

 pelvic region are fully developed. It is difficult to prevent the males from 

 becoming too fleshy for breeding animals, and the females, when not in 

 milk, take on flesh rapidly and soon become full in form. The cows range 

 in weight from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, most of them being between 1,100 

 and 1,400 with an average of about 1,250 pounds. The bulls at maturity 

 are very large and heavy, often above 2,500 pounds in weight. The head 

 is long, rather narrow and bony, with bright yet quiet eyes and large 

 mouth and nostrils. The horns are small and fine, often incurving, and 

 frequently white with black tips. The ears are large, thin, and quick in 

 movement. The neck is long, slender, and tapered in the cows, its upper 

 line often quite concave. The back line is usually level, particularly with 

 the males, and the hips broad and prominent; some have well-rounded 



