HOLSTEIN CATTLE 117 



conditions, they are small, but they have been quite suc- 

 cessful in competition with other breeds for show-yard 

 honors. 



HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE 



Holstein-Friesian cattle, commonly called' " Holsteins," 

 originated in the small and thickly settled European coun- 

 try of the Netherlands, a large part of which is below the 

 level of the sea and which has been reclaimed from it. 

 The land is low and wet and the chmate is very moist, 

 ideal conditions for the growth of pasture grass. 



History. — The early history of the Holstein is not 

 definitely known, but records show that large producing 

 cows were common to that part of Europe over 1000 years 

 ago. From this breed sprung some of the most important 

 breeds of Denmark, Germany, ag.fi Belgium. The early 

 Dutch settlers brought some of these cattle to the United 

 States. Large black and white cattle were numerous in 

 the New England States over 200 years ago. 



Characteristics. — Holsteins are easily recognized by 

 their black and white color and their great size. Bulls 

 weighing up to 2500 or 2600 pounds in moderate flesh are 

 not imusual, though those weighing aroimd a ton are more 

 desirable. Cows will weigh up to 1800 or 1900 pounds, but 

 the most common weights run from 1250 to 1450 poxmds. 

 Holstein calves are very large, and their high birth weights 

 make them desirable for veal purposes. 



The cows are the heaviest yielders of milk of any dairy 

 breed. Good cows produce on the average 10,000 poimds 

 of milk annually, while some have produced over 30,000 

 pounds in a single year. Farmers like the cows because 

 they are large and strong, which gives them the capacity 



