KLIPPART'S OBSERVATIONS. 41 



introduction of this breed into this country, and the competition among its 

 importers and breeders, is working a great change in public opinion in regard 

 to the capacity of the dairy cow. One extreme is likely to be followed by 

 another. From doubting moderate records, the public are being educated to 

 expect marvelous records, and to really overestimate the average capacity of 

 this breed. Disappointment must follow such a state of facts. Hence it 

 becomes important to fix upon a fair average yield that each individual owner 

 may understand where his cows rank. 



The average yield per cow of the North Holland or Friesian breed, as repre- 

 sented by these tables, is 7,972 Ibs. This average closely accords with the esti- 

 mate of Prof. Hengerveld, in his Introduction to the Netherlands Herd-Book. 

 It is there given as 3,500 litres, which, being reduced, is 7,952 Ibs. The climate 

 in this country is warmer and dryer during the summer season, than in the 

 countries from which these averages are calculated. This, no doubt, will result 

 in producing a diminished quantity, with an increased quality of product. 

 Hence we estimate that a well-kept herd in this country should produce from 

 7,000 to 7,500 Ibs. per cow annually. It must be borne in mind that not every 

 cow can reach the average product. There is a wide diversity in the yield of 

 cows in all breeds. At least as many must fall below the average as rise above 

 it. If the range below is narrower, the proportionate number that occupy this 

 range must be increased. This may seem to some to be underrating the breed. 

 A moment's reflection will convince to the contrary. The average of 7,000 to 

 7,500 Ibs. is more than double the product of the average dairy cow throughout 

 the United States. New York state is probably as good a dairy state as there 

 is in the Union. Especially superior are those sections devoted to the manu- 

 facture of cheese. The statistics of the cheese factories of this state in 1875 

 show an average product of milk per cow of 3, 082 Ibs.; the noted county of 

 Herkimer leading the other sections at the average product of 3,498 Ibs. The 

 average we have given this breed is considerably more than double these 

 amounts. If this breed is not overestimated in these reports and tests, all of 

 which seem to have been impartially made, a great general increase of wealth 

 would result from its universal introduction into those sections of our country 

 to which it is adapted. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE BREED IN AMERICA RECORDS AT SHADELAND SOME REMARKABLE INSTANCES 

 PIETERTJE 2D, ETC. LARGEST YEARLY RECORDS ACTUAL RESULTS. 



In the language of Mr. S. Hoxie, the introduction of the Holstein-Friesian 

 breed in America has greatly enlarged the possibilities of milk and butter 

 productions throughout our rich dairy sections. Our dairymen have been 

 awakened and have changed in regard to the capacity to which they may raise 

 their herds. Thirty pounds of milk a day, 5000 pounds a year, and 7 pounds of 

 butter a week were considered twenty-five years ago as large yields, and even 

 now are above the capacity of unimproved cows. The progress of such change 

 of views may be traced in the progress of records that have been made by cows 

 of this breed and publicly credited. The cow Crown Princess owned by Hon. 

 Gerrit S. Miller of Peterboro, N. Y., in six years from 1870 to 1876 made a 

 record of 61,112 pounds of milk, an average of 10.185 Ibs. per year. This was 

 followed by the record of Lady Clifden owned by Hon. Wm. A. Russell of Law- 

 rence, Mass. In 1875 she gave in three hundred and sixty-two days 16,274 

 pounds ; in 1876 in two hundred and eighty-two days 12,243 pounds ; and com- 

 mencing May 1st, 1877, in three hundred and ninety-six days 13,232 pounds. 

 The Maid of Twisk, owned by the Unadilla Valley Association, a company of 

 dairy farmers in Trenton, N. Y., followed this by a record for three hundred 

 and three days in 1876 of 12,563 pounds ; for three hundred and twenty-five 

 days in 1877 of 14,312 pounds ; and for three hundred and thirty-six days in 

 1878 of 15,960f Ibs. Next came the records of the noted cows Aegis and Aaggie 

 owned by Smiths & Powell Co. of Syracuse, N. Y. In 1880, three hundred and 

 sixty-five days, the former gave 16,823| Ibs. and the latter 18,004|f pounds. 

 With the exception of Aegis these were all imported cows and it began to be 

 questioned whether such cows could be produced in this country. The answer 

 4 



