20 HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE. 



white variegated cattle. Several volumes of the Friesian Herd-Book are ex- 

 clusively of this class, and it requires but little foresight to discover that the 

 time will shortly come when the other colors will be entirely dropped. In this 

 description this class will be taken as the only rightful representatives of the 

 breed. 



This class of cattle are of very nearly uniform build, size and quality. 

 Full grown cows will weigh from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, in moderate flesh. The 

 great majority, would, however, be included in a range from 1,100 to 1,300 

 pounds, and the mean of 1,200 pounds may be regarded as the live weight of 

 the average Friesian cow. In the fifth volume of the Friesian Herd-Book, 198 

 cows are registered, ranging in age from two and one-half to seven years. The 

 average height of these cows at the shoulders is 53.71 inches, and at the hips 

 54.29 inches. The average girth at the smallest circumference of the chest is 

 76.10 inches, and the average length of body, including shoulders and rump, is 

 66.24 inches. The average width across the hips, from one hook bone to the 

 other, is 22.35 inches. These averages are made from measurements taken 

 with much carefulness at the time the animals were offered for registry by the 

 inspector. These cows were of the following ages : Forty-five between two 

 and a half and three years, 85 between three and four years ; 43 between four 

 and five years, and 25 above five years. In the main register of the Dutch- 

 Friesian Herd-Book two other measurements are found, the length from the 

 hook bone to the outward point of the pelvic bone, and the width of the ani- 

 mal through at the thurl bone. (The latter measurement is taken by an instru- 

 ment made in the form of a shoemaker's measure.) Measurements of 35 cows, 

 very nearly averaging in other respects with the measurements given in the 

 Friesian Herd-Book, are reported. The average length of these animals, from 

 hips to rump, is 20.87 inches, and the average width at the thurl, 19.50 inches. 



From these various measurements it is not difficult to construct the out- 

 line of the average Friesian cow with mathematical accuracy. There is no 

 possible danger of exaggeration, except in the minute points. It will be seen 

 at once that there is great capacity of chest ; the girth at the smallest circum- 

 ference is nearly six and a half feet. Here is room for the vital organs, and an 

 assurance of a strong and vigorous constitution. The brisket is not generally 

 low, but the chest is round and full, carrying the shoulders well out. This 

 roundness is continued backward in the spread of the ribs and the girth of the 

 abdomen. There is a rapid increase in circumference, giving the wedge form, 

 but the belly does not sag, although of great dimensions. The animal ap- 

 pears trim and symmetrical in body. By further studying these measurements, 

 the great capacity of the pelvic region will also be seen. The average width 

 at the hips is 22.35 inches ; at the thurl, 19.50 inches, while the length from 

 hips to rump is 20.87 inches. These measurements include a surface of at least 

 four hundred square inches immediately over the reproductive and milk secre- 

 ting organs. Thus it will be seen that in the three great departments of the 

 animal structure, the chest, abdomen and pelvic region, there is extraordinary 

 development. Now if the bones are fine, we may expect superiority in milk 

 and beef production. In the living animal this fineness is especially noticeable 

 in the tail and in the limbs below the hocks and knees. The bones of the head 

 and horns are also fine. The skin, though of good thickness, is soft and mel- 

 low, and the hair of a texture indicative of fineness of organization. 



In filling up this outline, we fortunately have the description of Mr. John 

 H. Klippart, late Secretary of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. No one 

 can question his impartiality. He Jiad no interest in the breed, except to fairly 

 report it, with many others, to his constituents. He says: ' 'The most celebrated 

 of the Holland cattle are the Friesians, which are regarded as the original stock 

 of all. They belong to what may with propriety be called the heavy breeds, and 

 are remarkable for their very fine bones, fine and mellow hide, and peculiar color- 

 ing. The head is long, rather narrow, with fine, light bones, but has rather 

 a broad or wide mouth. The horns are short and fine, curving inward and 

 downward. The neck is long and fine, somewhat curved downward on the top: 

 the brisket well set, which is always characteristic of the lowland race. The 

 withers and the back are broad, and as nearly level as the Shorthorn, as well 

 as the peculiarly broad and projecting hips ; the tail well set, long and fine; 

 the chest broad and deep, and in good proportion to the belly. The limbs are 

 fine, rather longer than in the Shorthorn, but equally fine; the bag in the cows 

 well developed." He further adds: "The Holland bull is as large, as broad 



