Holstein (cattle)
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For other uses of the word, see Holstein
The Holstein is a cattle breed used in dairy farming. It is often crossbred with the Friesian, which is a very similar animal in appearance, but tends to be better built and more resilient.
Developed in northern Germany (Holstein) and the province of Friesland, The Netherlands, the Holstein is sometimes also known as the Friesian Holstein or the Holstein Friesian. It was imported to the United States of America in the 1860s, and to Argentina in 1880 (the Argentine variety receives the name Holando-Argentino). Thanks to the breed's flexibility, productivity, and economic production of milk, the Holstein is now the most common breed of dairy cattle around the world. The Holstein's most outstanding characteristic is its combination of a high volume of milk production at an acceptable milk fat percentage. Typical Holstein milk is 2.5% to 3% milk fat (the Jersey, another popular dairy breed, produces about half the volume of milk per cow per day, but at 4 to 4.5% milk fat). European Holstein herds (especially in Denmark and the Netherlands) can produce much higher fats - some as high as 4.6% - even with yields per cow per year of 8,000 litres.
The stereotypical milk cow in western entertainment and commercials, an average Holstein cow in the United States produces about 28,000 pounds (12,700 kg) of milk per annum. This is roughly equivalent to 3,250 U.S. gallons (12,300 litres). European Holstein cows tend to average 7,000 - 8,000 litres per year. Lifetime yield of Holstein cows tends to average around 30,000 litres regardless of the country or the system of milk production that is being used. The Holstein breed has one of the biggest gene pools world-wide and thus genetic progress has been faster than in other dairy breeds. It is thus the breed of choice for most dairy farmers worldwide. Cross breeding with other breeds is popular in some countries (New Zealand for example) to avail of the many benefits arising from hybrid vigour.
Most Holsteins weigh 90 pounds (40 kg) at birth. Holstein cows will mature to approximately 1,400 pounds (600 kg), while Holstein bulls will reach nearly 2,000 pounds (900 kg). Mature Holstein cows can weigh as much as 1,750 pounds (800 kg).
The primary color pattern for this breed is black and white, but a red and white variety, called "Red Holstein", is also maintained. Red factor (as it is called) is a recessive gene and thus black-and-white cows can be carriers of this gene without exhibiting the red and white colouration.
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