The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-07-08
HOlstein-F rieSianS
in Michigan
Introduction of Holstein- F riesian into
State-(Rx H. F. Denn;.orN

II NJ
Michigan has long been prominent
| as a Holstein section and the part
| that Michigan breeders have played
in the breed development will be of
| interest to every owner of black and
whites. Before giving an account of
| the breeds early history and develop
ment in the State, we will mention
| briefly their early struggles in get
ting a foot-hold in the United States.
| Undoubtedly black and white cat
tie were brought into the East, es-
| pecially to the Hudson River and Mo-
hawk Valleys of New York, by Dutch
| settlers who settled those sections.
However, no attempt to breed them
in any state of purity is recorded.
The first pure bred animal of this
| breed was brought to Massachusetts,
from Holland by Mr.. w. w. Chenery
| in 1852. This importation was made
cow were so outstanding that Sec
cows was made by Mr.. Chenery in
1857, and third importation of four
cows in 1859. With the single excep-
ton of a young bull all the imported
| cattle and the;r pure-bred descend
| ants were slaughtered in 1859 and
1860 under orders of the Common
wealth of Massachusetts, because of
| Tie prevalenca OF Pleuro Pneumonia.
In 1851 Mr.. Chenery brought over
| another bunch of four cows which
mated to the bull saved from the pre-
| viously imported cattle constitutes
the foundation of black and white
breeding as an enterprise in America.
Mr.. T. E. Whiting of Concord,
! Mass, made later importation from
| different source than Mr.. Chenery.
A jealous quarrel between these two
men as to the name to be applied to
the cattle in this country finally led
to the use of the more or less awk-
ward name Holstein-Friesian now
used to designate the breed. Pre-
vious to 1885 two separate herd books
were published, one representing the
cattle brought from Friesland in Hol-
land, and the other representing cat
tie imported from the adjoining pro-
vince of Holstein in Germany.
Neither side being willing to give up
the use of the name then in use a
combination of the two words was
finally used and the two associations
brought together as the Holstein-
Friesian Association Of America at
joint meeting in 1885.
Hon. M. L. Sweet of Grand Rapids
is given credit for bringing the first
Holstein-Friesians to Michigan in
1877. These cattle, bull and two
heifers were bought from Mr.. Ger
rift s. Miller of Peterboro, N. Y.
During the next five years other ami
mails were bought by Mr.. Sweet from
the above herd and also from the
herd of A. Bradley of Massachusetts,.
All these animals were registered in
the Holstein Herd Book. ..
In the Summer of 1878 Mr.. w. r,
Greene of Adrian purchased the inn
ported bull Kartenar from parties in
Toledo, Ohio. This bull was after
ward sold to A. Underwood of Addi-
son and finally went to parties out of
the State. In June, 1879, Mr.. I'm
dcrwood purchased the imported bull
Third Consul from Illinois. Ac-
cording to the owner, this bull at
tanned the weight of $3.50 lbs. in
1882. Through purchase of animals
from eastern herds and as result of
herd increase this herd numbered rs
animals in 1883.
Following the activity OF Mr..
Sweet and Mr.. Underwood, quite a
number of farmers began to be in
terested in this new breed, and we
find the following names listed as
the other men to establish herds at
an early date:
d. S. Banding, Tuscola, Kent
County, 1878.
Michigan Agricultural College,
East Lansing, 1882.
p. B. Richardson, Tuscola, Kent
County, 1878.
Edwin Phelps, Pontiac, 1878.
Phelps & Seely, Pennington, 1881.
Jas. G. Birnly, Bay City, Imp,
1878.
Stone g. Briggs, Hastings, 1880.
Rufus Baker, Lenawee County,
Cole & Hawkins, Lenawee County,
1879.
Ogden Cole, Lenawee County,
Mr.. w. L. Weber, E. Saginaw,
Dir. Imp, 1882.
Mark Seeley, Pennington, Dir. |
IMP R 1882 g.. uu 900.
Others purchased about this time. |
1t is interesting to note the Agri- |
cultural College early became inter- |
ested in these cattle, and bought a |
few head for the College herd. Two |
of these cows, Belle Sarcastic, and |
Rosa Bonheur Fifth, proved to be |
great cows. These two animals were |
among the first cows of the breed to
be tested under the Adv. Reg. system
established by the Holstein- Friesian
Association. Rosa Bonheur Fifth |
held the world milk and butter record
for some time with production rec
ord Of 682. lbs. milk and 25.337 lbs.
butter in seven days. Belle Sarcas-
tic made $685. lbs. milk and 1888
lbs. butter in seven days, 246O.6 lbs.
milk and 105.17 lbs. butter in 80
days, and 23189.6 lbs. milk and 9O2.1
lbs. butter in 365 days. The 3O-day
and the 365-day records stood as
worlds records for some time. Sar-
castle Lad a son of Belle Sarcastic
was grand champion bull at st. Louis
Exposition, and is the sire of Colan-
tina Johenna Lad, one of the greatest
bulls of the breed