266 Cattle Problems. 



as develop affection toward the attendant. Yes, affec- 

 tionate attachment, ye machine men. Comfort promotes 

 good digestion, and tends to increase yield. Caressing, 

 comfort, and care, as well as feed, having had each its 

 share of influence in developing large yield, as is fre- 

 quently witnessed, and as was long ago shown in the train- 

 ing of the Netherland cows of Western Europe, now at- 

 tracting great attention from American dairymen. 



The Netherland, or Holstein-Dutch cows are a large 

 breed, and large in their yielding capacity. They are bred 

 in various parts of the low-coast country, with unimportant 

 differences in color, etc. , from Holland to Denmark. For- 

 merly breeds of cattle in North America were mainly de- 

 rived from the British Islands ; and the cattle of that 

 country were derived, previously, from Western Europe, 

 where dairying is an ancient art, thus indicating that the 

 Netherland cows, generally, are the oldest well-known dairy 

 breeds. It follows that their milking capacity, which 

 varies as in other cows, with locality and treatment, has 

 been longer continued, and is more fixed, as far as fixing a 

 suitable organization is concerned, than in any other 

 known dairy cows. 



The form of the Holsteins, or Dutch cows, how- 

 ever, is not perfect, nor the best for pasturing in hilly or 

 undulating localities. They are rather too tall, standing 

 higher, for instance, than the Herefords or Galloways, or 

 than the best common cows. They are not round enough 

 in body, as whatever may have been said about double 

 cubes for beef, and wedge-shaped cows for milk, a round- 

 formed cow is the most vigorous from superior muscu- 

 larity, and has better digestive power, producing more 

 blood, with a better form for economizing heat, and a 

 larger body-surface compared with her weight, than tall 

 and somewhat flat-sided cows. And roundish-bodied cows 

 will yield more when their hind quarters are large, other 



