Vol, LV. No. 2406 . NEW YORK, MARCH 7 , 1896. *1.00 PER YEAR. 
FAMOUS HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE. 
SOMETHING ABOUT THE “ BRACK AND WHITE ” BREED. 
A Result of Skillful Selection in Breeding. 
Two weeks ago, Mr. Edward A. Powell told us about 
the three methods of improving live stock. These 
were better care and food, selection and 
scientific breeding. Our illustrations 
this week, of animals from the herd of 
Smiths & Powell, are given with a view 
of showing the improvement that may 
be made in a herd when all these 
methods are employed to the best ad¬ 
vantage. 
Sir Netherland Clothilde 8517 stands 
at the head of. this herd. He was put 
there because, for generations on either 
side, his female ancestors have been 
noted as milk or butter producers. For 
example, his 13 nearest female ancestors 
have weekly butter records which aver¬ 
age 19 pounds 15 4-13 ounces of butter, 
while their milk yields average 10,052 
pounds 3 5-13 ounces. Nine of the near¬ 
est of these ancestors averaged 21 pounds 
8 1-9 ounces of butter per week. 
The theory of breeding is that a bull 
with such ancestry must, when mated 
with good cows, transmit the milking 
habit to his heifer calves. Let us see 
how the facts accord with theory. 
Twenty two-year old heifers from this 
bull have been tested for butter and 
milk. They gave average weekly records 
of 12% pounds of butter, and average yearly records 
of 10,000 pounds of milk. The mixed milk of 16 of 
them averaged 4.08 per cent of butter fat. Fig. 53 
shows a group of eight of these heifers. See how 
closely they resemble the bull. The fact is that the 
form, color and good qualities of this bull have been 
bred into him through long years of selection. He 
62 pounds 6 ounces of milk in one day, and for the 
whole year 11,201 pounds 7 ounces. When two years 
old, she made 15 pounds 8% ounces of butter in a 
week, and when three years old, 20 ppunds and one- 
half ounce. This result is what one might reason¬ 
ably expect from her pedigree, for her six nearest 
female ancestors have yearly milk records averaging 
15,381 pounds 6 ounces, and weekly butter records 
which average 21 pounds 4% ounces. 
Of course it is not expected that the average farmer 
can breed such cattle in a few crosses from his com¬ 
mon stock ; but the principles of breeding are fixed 
and sure, and even in the humblest herd, careful 
Most dairy farmers will naturally fill their herds 
with grades—the cows from which their heifers are 
to come being of no particular type. Their wisest 
plan will be to get as good a bull as they can afford, 
and save the heifers each year from the cows that 
come nearest to the type they have selected for the 
improved herd. 
We have taken the Holstein breed for 
this illustration, because these famous 
“ black and white” cows show, in a re¬ 
markable degree, how skillful selection 
and proper mating can be made to re¬ 
produce and improve desirable qualities. 
The Holsteins have long been famous 
for milk production, and of late years, 
certain families have been fed and bred 
so skillfully that the quality of the milk 
has been greatly improved without re¬ 
ducing its quantity. Holsteins are a 
prepotent breed, and well-bred bulls are 
sure to show their characteristic size, 
color and qualities in any ordinary herd. 
These cattle are also strong and rugged. 
They eat heartily, but will dispose of an 
immense amount of roughage. The cows 
are quiet and docile. We can readily 
see that each of the recognized breeds 
of cattle has a certain place in the agri¬ 
cultural economy of this country. We 
would select the Holstein of improved 
strains for milk farming—preferably on 
rich, level lands, where a large amount 
of cheap forage is to be turned into milk. 
The Holsteins came originally from 
the low meadows lying along the North Sea in 
Europe, and, for their best development, have al¬ 
ways demanded rich pasture, and plenty of food. No 
one would select the Holsteins to graze on scant and 
rocky pastures. The Ayrshires, Devons or Jerseys 
would climb hills and travel about for food, but the 
heavier Holstein was not built for such wandering. 
has also received the best of food and care. The re¬ 
sult is that these good qualities are fixed, and are 
sure to appear in his offspring. 
The same theory works out when applied to cows. 
We have an illustration of this in the cow Nether¬ 
land Monk’s Aaggie Constance 20556 (see Fig. 51. This 
cow, in her two-year-old form, gave, on winter feed, 
selection and the introduction of improved blood, 
will surely improve the cattle. Some one has said 
that “ blood ” is the concentrated extract of years of 
selection and care. A child is the reflection of its 
parents. It is the mission of the bull to reproduce, 
in his daughters, the good or bad qualities of his 
mother and grandmother. 
and will not thrive on it. Many of the cattle at 
Cornell University are Holstein grades, and they are 
well liked. The best cows in the herd carry more or 
less Holstein blood. They are called “ best” because 
they give the most milk for a dollar’s worth of food. 
It is good milk, too—good enough for college boys, 
who are better than liabcock testers for sampling it. 
