Holstein Cattle. 
M. H. Thompson, Esq.: Elgin, III., Feb. 1, 1876. 
Dear Sir-Iii compliance with your request to furnish for your report some informa- 
tion m regard to the Holstein cattle, I offer the following: Portions of it are the testimony 
and from ohtp 0m r n ° f my ° Wn ex P erience with the stock in this country 
and from observations made during my visits to Holland. And just here let me suggest 
that no person interested in fine cattle, and particularly dairy stock, should fail to spend a 
few days in Holland. The mere sight-seer will be well repaid, for, as ha* been very nron- 
erly remarked by a visitor there, “ Holland is like itself and nothing else." One needs to sTe 
wellTent e hSi ^ ditcheS ’ and wind *^ to appreciate them. The 
T h ^ WayS (more llke venues in a park), lined on either side by beautiful shade- 
trees the rich green meadows dotted with thousands of cattle and sheep; the peculiar 
construction of the dwellings, and the marvelous neatness noticed on every side, forming a 
I ture never to be forgotten. The frank, simple ways of the people places one at onceat 
is ease, and although we have made many improvements on their dairy system much 
may be learned of them. * y aiem, mucn 
The first question asked in relation to these cattle is. What advantages do they possess 
over other breeds for the American dairy, and particularly for the Northwest? ‘in a few 
or s, they are these: A combination of large-size well-proportioned, hardiness, a quiet 
disposition, rapid growth, early maturity, and milking qualities possessed by no other 
bleed in existence, giving a large flow of rich milk for a long season. 
Their “holding-out ” propensity is remarkable, and is one of their best characteristics- 
and being one of the oldest and purest breeds, they transmit their qualities to their progeny 
with almost absolute certainty. s ' 
They have been bred long enough in this country to prove that they are particularly 
adapted to our feed and climate. The first we have record of were brought by the West 
India Company m 1625, and later importations by the Dutch settlers along the Hudson 
About 1810 Consul Jarvis imported a few and bred them at his farm at Weathersfield Ver¬ 
mont; and I am told that grades, descendants of that importation, are still to be found in 
Is ortheastern Is ew 1 ork, and have always been noted milkers. Rut it is to the importations 
of the past twenty-five years, and the “Association of Holstein Breeders,” that these cattle 
owe their present position in the United States. During this time they have been thor- 
oughlj tested m different parts of our country, from Maine to California, and I have yet to 
learn of the first case where they have failed of good results in the hands of practical,expe- 
nenced breeders. This success I attribute largely to the manner of feeding and breeding in 
eir own country. Although they have been brought to a high state of perfection, it has 
not been done by high feeding and forcing, as has been the case with other improved breeds 
The grass m Holland is abundant and rich, and the hay fine and nutritious, and this consti- 
notth 6 tW ° 8eaSOnS ’ summer and winter - deeding grain is the exception , 
not the rule. Neither are many roots raised in North Holland. 
1 will also state, in passing, that abortion is little known in Holland, although it is exclu¬ 
sively a dairy country; and it occurred to me that the simple nature of their feed and the 
fr. C ° f thG C ° WS had much to do m my. experience ^th HXteins 
I have had but three cases of abortion. Two of these I knew to be the result of accident 
and sickness, the other I believe to be the effect of a fall. 
Ido wish to convey the idea that every cow in Holland is a large milker but the 
themHfi f ° l o ' ved, a s it has been, of culling their poor and indifferent milkers and fattening 
hem, has ramed the grade , and increased the per cent, of milkers far above that of any other 
