38 HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE. 



The highest yield of the Breitenburg cows was 7,365 Ibs., and lowest 7,050 

 Ibs. 



The highest yield of the Holland (Holstein-Freisian) cows was 15,355 Ibs. and 

 the lowest 6,315 Ibs. 



The average winter ration was composed of 10 Ibs. of straw of summer 

 grain, 2 1-2 Ibs. of oat and wheat chaff, 25 Ibs. of turnips, 10 Ibs. of hay, 8 Ibs. 

 of brewers grains, wet, and 3 Ibs. of rye bran. This contained of digestible 

 nutriment 3.28 Ibs. of albuminoids, and 14.3 Ibs. of carbo-hydrates, having a 

 nutritive ratio of 1: 4.2 equal in nutritive value to 42 Ibs. of hay. 



The average ration in summer is 135 Ibs. of green clover and 8 Ibs. of dry 

 day. The hay is to modify the succulence of the clover. Dr. Rhode says this 

 ration is equal to 45 Ibs. of hay, and contains of digestible albuminoids 5.7 Ibs. 

 and of carbo-hydrates 14.91 Ibs. nutritive ratio 1: 2-5. 



He says the small cows did not eat as much as the large Holland cows, 

 though the food of each was not weighed; yet when the same amount of food 

 was placed in two racks, it was found that nine large cows ate as much as ten 

 small cows per day, and he thus counted them as 9 to 10, in proportion of food 

 or the small cows consumed 45 Ibs. of hay, or its equivalent, while the large 

 consume 50 Ibs. 



According to the specific yield, they severally require of food for the produc- 

 tion of one quart of milk. 



Holland cows (Holstein-Friesian), little more than 5.00 Ibs. hay value 



Breitenburg 6.25 " " ' 



Tondern 7.00 " " " 



Ayrshire 9.00 lk 



The Holland cows weigh from 1200 to 1400 Ibs. 

 " Breitenburg " 1100 to 1300 Ibs. 



" Tondern 900 to 1000 Ibs. 



" Ayrshire 800 to 900 Ibs. 



Here it appears that the large cows were the more economical milk pro- 

 ducers. Here Dr. Rhode, at the head of the Eldena Agricultural School, found 

 a pretty wide difference between the Hollanders and Ayrshires; and we are 

 quite inclined to think, if the food of each separate class of animals had been 

 accurately kept through the year, the difference could not have been so large as 

 he makes the production from the same food 80 per cent in favor of the 

 Holland cows. Dr. Rhode remarks on this: 



"It cannot be questioned, from these results, to which race belongs the 

 advantage. They value none in Eldena for milk but the Holland cows." 



Another experiment, conducted by Villeroy, between the Hollanders and 

 the Devons, resulted in producing 28.92 quarts of milk for 100 pounds of hay 

 from the Hollanders, and 19.13 quarts of milk for 100 Ibs. of hay from the 

 Devons. Baron Ockle, in Frankenfelde, made a comparative experiment, 

 between Ayrshires averaging 806 Ibs. in weight, and Hollanders averaging 

 1,016 Ibs. in weight. The smaller breed consumed 33.10 of hay to 100 Ibs. of live 

 weight, while the larger breed consumed 28.10 Ibs. of hay to 100 Ibs. of live 

 weight. 



Every breed of cattle that lays any claim to public recognition as a dairy 

 breed, has had its phenomenal cows with marvelous milk or butter records; 

 every breed has also had its worthless cows, that may have come to public 

 notice through the reports of impartial experimenters. Manifestly, it would 

 be unjust to take the latter class as the true exponents of a breed. Equally 

 improper would it be to seek to impress the public mind with the idea that 

 such phenomenal cows are its true representatives. It is for the interests of 

 the majority of the breeders of any valuable breed, as well as for the public 

 interest, that data be given upon which a correct average production may be 

 safely estimated, under the varying conditions of climate, care and feed. Such 

 records may not startle and attract like those of phenomenal cows, yet they 

 are the best foundation upon which a valuable reputation can be built. 



Perhaps the most extensive and important records that were ever reported, 

 are those that were made upon the estates of the King of Wirtemburg, between 

 1833 and 1865. It is to be regretted that a full report is not within our reach. 

 The following is either directly taken or calculated from the report of Mr. 

 Klippart, to which we have often referred: Fifteen breeds were thoroughly 

 tested under the same or similar circumstances. They were not fed and cared for 

 with a view to producing extremely large records, but with a view to profitable 

 yields under the circumstances of agriculture and markets of Wirtemburg. All 



