126 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



portations and by breeding, and are now to be found in nearly all 

 parts of this country. 



Characteristics. The striking features in the appearance of this 

 breed are the color markings 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. 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 and white 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'that are 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, abdo- 

 men, and pelvic region are fully developed. It is difficult to prevent 

 the males from becoming too fleshy for breed animals, and the fe- 

 males, 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 udder is often of extraordinary 

 size, filling the space between legs set well apart, extending high be- 

 hind and fairly well forward, with teats of large size and well placed. 

 The milk veins are usually prominent and sometimes remarkably 

 developed. There is a more marked inclination toward the beef form 

 among the bulls than among the cows ; the latter are generally of the 

 true dairy type. 



In temperament these animals are quiet and docile, bulls as well 

 as cows. They have great constitutional vigor. The calves are large 

 at birth, almost always strong and thrifty, and they grow fast and 

 fatten easily. They mature early, heifers reaching their full height 

 at two and a half years and showing no growth after four or five years 

 except the addition of flesh and fat. Animals of both sexes can be 

 readily turned into very good beasts for slaughter at almost any age, 

 but they lack depth in the loin and ribs and have not the finish and 

 quality of the noted beef breeds. These animals are very large 

 feeders and at the same time dainty about their eating. To do their 

 best they must have an abundance of rich food without the necessity 

 of great exertion to get it. 



Milk and Butter Records. These great black-and-white cows 

 yield milk in proportion to their size. The breed is famous for enor- 

 mous milk producers. Records are abundant of cows giving an aver- 

 age above tneir own live weight in milk monthly for ten or twelve 

 consecutive months, and there are numerous authentic instances of 

 daily yields of 100 pounds or more for several days in succession and 

 20,000 to 35,000 pounds of milk in one year. Cows giving 40 to 60 

 pounds (or 5 to 7 gallons) per day are regarded as average animals; 

 7,500 to 8,000 pounds per year is depended upon as a herd average. 



