DAIRY CATTLE — THE DUTCH BREEDS. 759 



they were entirely destroyed. In 1861 Mr. Chenery made another 

 importation of a bull and four cows, which canie over sound. These and 

 their descendants were the only pure-bred herd in America for years. ' 

 That they were the best representatives of their breed is certain from the 

 fact that they were selected with care from the best dairy herds of North 

 Holland, and were so certified to by the official authorities of the districts 

 where they were bred. 



Later, as they gained a foothold in the West and showed their eminent 

 adaptability to the climate, and their wonderful yields of milk became 

 known, sagacious breeders undertook the importation as a business spec- 

 ulation. These cattle are now pretty well distributed from Ohio west, 

 and, with full summer and Avinter feeding, are regarded by many dairy- 

 men, especially cheese-makers, as superior to an}^ other known milking 

 breed. 



XVIII. What Prof. Roberts Says. 



Prof. Roberts, in an address before the New York Dairyman's Associa- 

 tion, gives the following in relation to breeding and care in North Hol- 

 land and Frieslana, from actual ol)servation there : 



In the first place, but few ])ulls are kept, and these but for two or three 

 years at most, when they are sold in the market for beef. These bulls 

 are selected with the utmost care, invariably being the calves of the 

 choicest milkers. But little attention is paid to fancy points or color, 

 though dark spotted is preferred to light spotted, and more attention 

 is now being i)aid to color in order to suit American customers. All 

 Other bull calves with scarce an exception are sold as veals, bringing 

 about one and a half times as much as Avith us. In like manner the 

 heifer calves are sold except about twenty per cent, which are also select- 

 ed with care and raised on skimmed milk. The age of the cow is usually 

 denoted l)y the nunil)er of her calves, and in no case did I find a cow that 

 had had more than six calves, usually only four or five. 'I'lieirrule is to 

 breed so that the cow's first calf is dropped in the stable before the dam 

 is two years old, in order that extra care and attention may be given. 

 There are other objects gained by this method ; for should the heifer fall 

 below their high standard she goes to the butcher's market before another 

 wintering, and though she brought little profit to the dairy she will more 

 than i)ay for \\er keeping at the block. Here we find a three fold method 

 of selection. First in the sire ; second, in the young calf , judged largely 

 by the milking qualities of the dam ; and lastly is applied the greatest of 

 all tests, perforinanee at the pail ; and not till she answers this satisfac- 

 torily IS she accorded a permanent place in the dairy. 



