30 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



Association, was formed in 1873, and five years later the Dutch 

 Friesian Association was organized. In 1885 the two united 

 under the present name, Holstein-Friesian. 



At the present time this breed ranks in number second 

 only to the Jersey among the dairy breeds in America, and 

 they are gaining in numbers and popularity very rapidly. 

 At present they are found in every state, but the largest 

 numbers are in the Eastern states, New York, Wisconsin, 

 Pennsylvania, and Ohio having especially large numbers of 

 this breed. Up to the present there have been registered 

 something over 225,000 head, of which about one third are 

 bulls. 



Form and Characteristics. The Holsteins are the largest 

 of the dairy breeds. The average weight of the mature cow 

 is 1200 pounds, but individuals vary from 1000 to 1600 

 pounds. The bulls weigh from 1800 to 2200, as a rule. The 

 color markings are variegated black and white. As a rule 

 the breeders have preferred animals on which the two colors 

 are about evenly divided. The colors are always sharply 

 defined and not blended. Fortunately this breed has never 

 been injured by a color fad, although there is recently a 

 tendency to favor those having more white than black. 



As a breed the Holsteins have the best disposition or tem- 

 perament of any dairy breed. In this respect they resemble 

 the Shorthorns more than any other breed. While cows of 

 this breed as a rule have plenty of nervous energy, which is 

 necessary to high dairy production, they are not nervous in 

 the common meaning of that term. Where Holsteins and 

 other more excitable breeds are kept together, the contrast 

 is easily noticed. A change of milkers, or any sudden dis- 

 turbance, as the presence of a stranger or a dog, will produce 



