Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-01-22
OUR FARMERS.
HOLSTEIN-FREISIAN CATTLE.

sections OF this country, henc9 tnsre
is a great demand for information in
regard to them.
These cattle were introduced from
the provinces of North Holland and
Friesland, section of the Kingdom
of Netherlands, bordering on the
North Sea, commonly called Holland.
The dairymen of these provinces are
descendants of the ancient Friesians,
and their cattle are ineal descend
ants of the cattle bred by them two
thousand years ago. From the earli-
est account of dairy husbandry these
cattle have been used and developed
for dairy purposes.
North Holland has been mainly
devoted to cheese production, and
Friesland to butter production. AS
an illustration of the extent Of the
latter production the following statis-
tics are quoted from Chambers
Encyclopedias: "The area of Friesland
is 1888 square miles (53 less than the
state of Rhode Island). In 1874
England imported from Friesland
40.763 cwt. of cheese, and 266, 041 cwt.
of butter" Reduced to pounds these
importations were 565,456 lbs. OF
cheese and %. 796 592 lbs. of butter.
In 1879 the number of cows il Fries
land was 144,8 02. Assuming an equal
number in 1874, this Importation OF
butter from Friesland was an average
OF 2G534 los. for all the COWS, old and
young, in that province. Even II
there were no home consumption and
no sales to other countries, these
exports alone sufficiently demonstrate
the great capacity of this breed. This
breed is found in more countries,
occupying more territory, aud prob
ably producing more milk, cheese and
butter than all other dairy breeds
combined.
Eastward from its place Of origin
this race has spread even more ex-
tensively than southwark. It has ex-
tended even to Russia where at the
mouth of the river Dwina, nearly
under the Arctic Circle, it has pro-
duced the Kolmogorian breed, the
most highly valued cattle of that
country Whether it might have
spread westward into England and
the Channel Islands but for the laws
restricting importations from the
continent, cannot be said. 1t is how
ever asserted by Professor Low, an
eminent English author on breeds of
cattle, writing in 1910, that early
import ations of Dutch cattle exercised
great influence on the formation of
the Teeswater, afterwards known as
the Shor thorn breed.
The type of the breed is technically
called the milk and beef form. 1t is
especially strong in all vital particu-
lars. The bones are fine compared
with size, and the chine broad and
strong compared with the high and
sharp chine OF the extreme milk
form. The twise is roomy and the
thighs and hooks We'll apart. Passing
forward, the shoulders are smoother
and more compact than in the milk
form, but of lighter weight than in
the beef form. The brisket is not SO
wide and low as in the beef form
and the chest is not so deep, but the
width of the beef form through at the
heart is closely retained. In the milk
form the abdomen is usually swung
low, and the ribs are steep; but in the
milk and beef form the ribs are widel
sprung and the abdomen more trinity
held up, though no less capacious
The general appearance of the bull il
strongly masculine, but that of The
COW is no less feminine than in thu
milk form.
This breed excels in milk pro
duction, it is superior for veal pro
duction and valuable for beef pro
duciion. For generations the natura
conditions under which these cattl
have been developed have been mos
favorable for this combination o
qualities. Looking upon one of it
model cows, the broad loin and runs
seems just the place for the growth
of toe finest quality Of beef and tn
fit support of the capacious udder
rne straight quarters and wei
rounded body cannot detract from
milk production. Her calves ar
large at birth and they grow an,
fatten with great rapidity. TIL
breeders in Holland and Frieslan
, have always avoided in-and- in breed
ling. In proof that this breed ha
maintained a high standard of vita
; force, we point to lis use in alrnos
. every climate, including that c
northern Russia, nearly up to tn
Arctic Circle. Here in America it
as hardy as our native cattle. Il