Holstein cattle

The Holstein, as it is commonly known today, was originally known as Holstein-Friesian because of its origination in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands and the Holstein region of northern Germany. In Holland, they were bred to make the best use of the grass pastures available.

Holsteins came to the United States in large importations during the 1860s and 1870s.

Some Holsteins possess a recessive gene for red hair color and red and white animals commonly live alongside their black and white counterparts.

The Holstein is a large-framed animal, the mature cow mass varying from 550 to 650 kg. Bulls often exceed 1000kg. Because they are fleshy animals, the Dutch types of Holstein are often classified as dual-purpose animals rather than as dairy cattle.

Their large size is beneficial in reducing the labor requirement per liter of milk produced, as labor input is largely a function of the number of cows on a farm.

Holsteins are known for their ability to produce large quantities of milk that can, in many cases, approach the butterfat and protein content of other major dairy breeds.

The average Holstein cow produces about 18,000 pounds of milk a year with 3.2 percent protein and 3.6 percent butterfat averages.
Holstein cattle