Middletown transcript., 1906-01-20
THE HOLsTEIN.FRIEsIAN CATTLE
From the Earliest Account They Have
Been Used for Dairy Purposes

AhOnA tnS LoiHSSt hS@VuHI IMSy H8F
Been Used for Dairy Purposes
To The TRANscRIpT, IT'S SUBSCRIBER
AND READERS.
AZ this section of Delaware and Mary
land is rapidly becoming interested in th
dairy industry it may be OF interest t
our farmit. riends to know somethin,
Of the brteu of dairy cattle.
The Holstein-Friesians
These cattle are rapidly occupying tn,
richer and more important dairy sections
| of this country. hence there is great de
mand for information in regard to them.
Tie cattle were introduced from the
provinces of North Holland and Friesland
a 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 descendants
of the cattle bred by them two thousand
years ago. From their earliest account OF
dairy industry 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 statistics are quoted from
Chambers Encyclopedia "The Area of
Friesland is 1858 square miles (53 less
than the little state, OF Rhode Island)
In 1874 England imported from Friesland
40, 763 cwt of cheese and 2S6,04lcwt of but
ter" Reduced to pounds these importa-
tiOI were 4, ,565, ,456 lbs of cheese and 29,-
79G, ,592 lbs. of butter" In 1879 the num-
Der OF cows in Friesand was IA, 1902.
Assuming g an equal number in 1874 this
importation of buffer from Friesland was
an average OF 2053 lbs. for all the COWS, old
and young, owned in that province.
Even if there we're no home consumption
and no sales to other countries these ex-
ports alone sufficiently demonstrate the
great capacity of this breed. This breed
is found in more countries. occupying
more territory and probably producing
more milk, cheese and butter than all
other dairy breeds combined.
Eastward from its place of origin this
race has spread even more extensively
than southward. 1t has extended even to
Russia where, at the mouth of the river
Dwina, nearly under the Arctic Circle it
has produced 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
however, asserted by Professor Low, an
eminent English author on breeds of cat
tie writing in 1S40, that early importa-
tions OF Dutch Cattle exercised great in
flueuce ON the formation of the Fees.
water, afterwards known as the Short
Horn breed.
The type of the breed is technically
called the milk and beef form. 1t is es-
pecially strong i'll all vital particulars.
The bones are fine compared with size,
and the chine broad and strong compared
with the high and sharp chine of the ex-
treme milk form. The loin and hips are
broad and smooth and the rump high
and level, compared with the irregularity
usually shown in the milk form, the twist
is roont and The thighs and hooks well
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 re-
tanned. 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 wider sprung and the abdomen
more trinity held up, though no less ca
pacious. The general appearance of the
bull is strongly masculine, but that of the
COW is no less feminine than in the milk
form.
This breed exceis in milk production
it is superior for veal production and val
liable for beef production. For genera
tions the natural conditions under which
these cattle have been developed have
been most favorable for this combination |
of qualities. Looking upon one of Its |
model COWS, the broad loin and rump
seems just the place for the growth of the |
finest quality of beef and fit support OF |
the capacious udder, the straight quarters |
and well rounded body cannot detract !
from milk production. Hef calves are large
at birth and they grow and fatten with
great rapidity. The breeders in Holland
and Friesland have always avoided in
and-in breeding.
In proof that this breed has MAIN
tained high standard of vital force, we
Mint IN Its use in almost every climate