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The history of the most common and most milking breed of cows in the world, oddly enough, is well documented, although it began even before our era. This is a Holstein cow, which arose due to the mixing of original Friesian cattle with “migrants” from modern Germany.
History of the Holstein breed
In the XNUMXst century BC, a group of settlers from the German land of Hesse came to the lands of what was then Frisia, located in the modern territories of the provinces of North Holland, Groningen and Friesland, bringing cows with them. The cattle of the Frisian tribes in those days were of a light color. The settlers brought black cows. The mixing of these two breeds, most likely, gave rise to the breeding of Holstein-Friesian cattle – the ancestor of the modern Holstein breed of cows.
The inhabitants of Frisia did not like to fight, preferring the work of shepherds. To avoid military service, they paid taxes to the Roman Empire in cowhides and horns. Most likely, the large size of Holstein cows dates back to those times, since large skins were more profitable for the manufacture of armor and shields. The breed was bred practically in purity, apart from small accidental impurities of other cattle.
In the XIII century, as a result of a flood, a large lake formed, dividing Frisia into two parts. A single population of cattle was also divided and two breeds began to form: Friesian and Holstein. As a result of historical processes, both populations mixed again. Today, Holsteins and Frisians are united under the common name “Holstein-Friesian breed of cattle.” But there is some difference. Friezes are smaller. Holstein weight 800 kg, friezes 650 kg.
The land of the Netherlands, drained from swamps, is still ideal for growing grass for livestock feed. She was famous for the same in the Middle Ages. In the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, the former Frisia produced a huge amount of cheese and butter. Raw materials for the manufacture of products were obtained from Friesian cattle.
The aim of the breeders of that time was to get as much milk and meat as possible from the same animal. Historical records mention cows weighing 1300 – 1500 kg. Inbreeding was not practiced in those days, often equating animals with people. Suffice it to recall the medieval trials of animals. And closely related relationships were forbidden by the Bible. Some differences in size in the Friesian cattle existed, not due to inbreeding, but due to different soil composition. Poor nutrition prevented cows from individual populations of Friesian cattle from growing to full size.
Since the Middle Ages, Holstein cattle has been exported to all European countries, participating in the improvement of local breeds of cows. In fact, all of today’s dairy breeds of cows can safely be said to have been Holsteinized at one time or another. Holsteins were not poured only into the populations of the islands of Jersey and Guernsey, whose laws prohibited the crossing of local cattle with imported ones. Perhaps this saved the Jersey breed of cows, whose milk is considered the best in quality.
In the middle of the XNUMXth century, Holstein cattle was imported to the United States, where its modern history began from that moment.
In the Soviet Union, Holstein cattle served as the basis for breeding the Black-and-White breed.
Description of the modern Holstein breed of cows
Although historically a Holstein breed of a meat and dairy direction, today a cow of this breed has a pronounced dairy exterior. Remaining at the same time a supplier of meat. But even in Holstein bulls, the meat yield will be low compared to meat breeds of cows.
However, the same can be said about bulls of any breed.
The growth of an adult Holstein-Friesian cow is 140 – 145 cm. Holstein bulls are up to 160. Individual specimens can grow up to 180 cm.
The color of Holstein cattle can be black and piebald, red and piebald and bluish piebald. The last one is very rare.
The blue color of the dark spots is caused by a mixture of black and white hairs. A Holstein cow with such gray hair looks bluish from afar. In English terminology, there is even the term “blue roan”. In the photo, a young Holstein bull of such a bluish-piebald suit.
In the Holstein breed, the most common color is black and piebald. Black and piebald cows have higher milk yields than their red and piebald counterparts.
The red color is caused by a recessive gene that can hide under the black color. Previously, red and piebald Holstein cows were culled. Today they have been identified as a separate breed. Red-and-spotted Holstein cattle have lower milk yield, but higher fat content of milk.
Exterior:
- the head is neat, light;
- the body is long;
- the chest is wide and deep;
- back long
- the sacrum is wide;
- croup straight;
- legs are short, with the correct setting;
- the udder is cup-shaped, voluminous, with well-developed milk veins.
The amount of milk, how much milk a cow gives can be determined by the shape of the udder and the development of the milk veins. An irregularly shaped udder that is too large is often low in milk. Milk yield from a cow with such an udder is low.
A high-quality udder has evenly developed lobes, cup-shaped. Nipples are small. Rough nipples are undesirable. The rear wall of the udder protrudes slightly between the hind legs, the bottom of the udder is parallel to the ground and reaches the hocks. The anterior wall is pushed far forward and smoothly passes into the line of the abdomen.
Productive characteristics of Holstein cows
The productivity of the Friesian breed varies greatly from country to country. In the United States, Holstein cows were selected for milk production, without paying attention to the content of fat and protein in milk. For this reason, American Holsteins have a very high milk yield with a relatively low fat and protein content.
With a lack of nutrients in the diet, the fat content in milk can fall below 1%, even with sufficient feed.
Although the average milk yield in the United States is 10,5 thousand kg of milk per year, this is offset by low fat content and a small percentage of protein in milk. In addition, such milk yield is achieved through the use of hormones that stimulate milk flow. The usual -European figures are in the range of 7,5 – 8 thousand liters of milk per year. At breeding farms, black and piebald Holsteins produce 7,3 thousand liters of milk with a fat content of 3,8%, red and piebald – 4,1 thousand liters with a fat content of 3,96%.
Now the concept of dual-purpose cattle is already losing its positions, but so far Holstein cows have good productivity not only in milk, but also in meat. The slaughter yield from the carcass is 50 – 55%.
A calf at birth weighs 38-50 kg. With good maintenance and feeding, by the age of 15 months, calves gain 350 – 380 kg. Further, the bulls are handed over for meat, as the weight gain decreases and the maintenance of calves becomes unprofitable.
Reviews of private owners of Holstein cows
Conclusion
The Holstein breed of cows is more suitable for industrial milk production. On farms, it is possible to control the quality of feed and its nutritional value. A private owner often does not have such an opportunity. Holsteins require a lot of space to keep and large food supplies due to their large size. Most likely, it is for this reason that private traders do not risk having Holstein-Friesian cattle, although this particular breed prevails on farms.