ANIMAL IXDUSTRIES 319 



breeds, being more delicate in constitution and habits, 

 are better suited to easier grazing conditions. 



The Holstein cow has doubtless attained the pres- 

 ent large numbers due to the practice of paying a 

 flat price for milk. She is a large animal and a 

 tremendous milk-producing machine. Holsteins 

 hold most of the world's records both for the total 

 amount of milk and of butter produced in a year, 

 and a large proportion of those records have been 

 made in New York State. The milk, although low 

 in fat, is high in other solids, which is probably the 

 basis of the designation of the breed as the cheese 

 cows. The butter is very mild in flavor and of ex- 

 cellent keeping quality although, like the milk, of 

 an unpopular pale natural color, due to the lack of 

 the rich golden tint that characterizes the product 

 of the Channel breeds. Perhaps another significant 

 fact is the vigor of the animals of this breed, both 

 young and old, and, therefore, the ease with which 

 they may be reared and maintained. The Channel 

 breeds have been relatively more popular than the 

 Holstein with the wealthy man and the cow fancier. 



The average production of milk to the cow for all 

 cows in the State is approximately 4500 pounds or 

 a little over 400 gallons. When it is remembered 

 that over 30,000 pounds of milk have been pro- 

 duced by a cow in a year and that many animals in 

 commercial herds yield from 12,000 to 18,000 pounds 

 of milk, it is apparent how low is this average. 

 Further, since abundant figures show that it requires 

 a production of 4500 to 5000 pounds to pay for the 



