THE HOLSTEIN AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1379, 4 March 1912, Page 8

THE HOLSTEIN AT HOME.

A TRAVELLER'S NOTES. Much has been written of Holstein cattle in America and elsewhere of late, anil tho popularity of the breed in New Zealand at present lends a particular interest to some notes on the ilolstein on her native ground, written for the "Breeders' Gazette." by Mr. John. Ashton. ill , . Ashton says: — There arc about three existing types of cattle in Holland, all of which are good milkers and all having as their common ancestors, according to Cuvier, the Bos Longifrons. The smaller variety is found about Utrecht and even so far south as tlio provinces of Brabant and Limburg in Belgium; then there is the medium variety raised in the province of Zetland, and lastly the largo kind as wo know it—the true Holstein-Friesian which has its homo in Friesland. Leeuwarden is the great centre, in the extreme northern part of the province. It is tho capital and largest town, and is reached directly from' all parts of tho country. It ia here whero the principal shows of the breed are held and where the Laudbouwhuis, containing-

tho headquarters of the Friesian Herd Book, is situated.

While some very rich farming districts, such as Mnrssum, may bo conveniently reached by electric tram from I^euivarden,

the visitor must not fail to take a, carriage and spend at least one day far out from the line of railway, notably the Decrsuni district, where some of the most fertile farms and finest milch cows can be found. Perhaps tho largest dairy farm in the province is to bo seen at Deersum, that of Firm* Sehaap. It is really a combined property of three farms tenanted by Mr. Sehaap, sen., and his' two sons. I arrived there just before milking timo and received a very hearty reception. Many distinguished visitors from all over tho world have been hero. The sit-ting-room is garnished with mednls and prizes won by the Sehaap herd, while tho walls are covered with photographs of famous cows. There are 80 heifers and cows in milk, and careful records are kept, as indeed in every well-appointed farm here, of the entire herd. Last year the Sehaap herd averaged 11,151 pounds milk with 3.13 per cent, fat, and an average lactation period of 310 days. Among their remarkable matrons I was shown a photograph of Alida 111, whicli died after her fifth calf. Her record was as follows :— Milk Fat, Butter, Days Tear, pounds, per cent, pounds, milked. ISO! 10,753 3.13 503 309 1005 10,850 3.27 383 321 10(10 21,529 3.00 715 305 1907 11.387 3.11 425 250 1008 7,775 -3.02 251 Died on 110 th day. Sir. Sehaap and his two sons are very judicious breeders, and are making praiseworthy efforts to increase the fat-yielding qualities of their stock by rigorously selecting tho best individuals for breeding purposes. I was shown a four-year-old, Jeltje, with an average record for a year of i per cent, butter-fat. Then another phenomenal cow was nointcd me that yielded the year before last 13.8G0 pound's of milk, with a fat percentage of 1.08, and last year her record was 11.278 pounds of milk and 3.75 per cent, fat, making 525 pounds of butter. Then T had tho pleasure of examining Alida V. an eight-year-old cow. Alida when fresh gives *3S litres a day, according to Mr. Schnnn, and it is almost impossible to dry her off. Here is her record for fivo years: Milk Fat, Bulter, Days Tear. pounds, per cent, pounds, milked. 1005 11,903 3.12 JOO 400 1900 11,818 3.12 390 271 1908 19,090 ' 3.22 GB2 368 l<10!) 18,'.)2t 3.19 C>l 310 1910 17,433 3.37 (33 322 Mr. Sehaap possesses an extraordinarily fine bull calf, Ceres, for which General Botha—who was at the farm a short time ago-offered 0,000 guilders (JMSO), but it was refused. The dam of Ceres obtained 1)2 points on being registered in the Herd Book. All animals to be registered ,in Prieslanil must be examined by an inspector and bto required to havo at least 70 points nllotted to them. The standard U very high, and it is very raro that an aniranl roaches BO points. Bulls are examined lit 1" mouths to 3 years old. Heifers must be 2 years 7 months old before registering, so that generally they ato well on their way to dropping their second calf before they enter the Herd Book. Large exportatioiis to .South Africa have taken place within recent years. No better proof of tho power of tho Holstein to adapt itself to "new and strange conditions is to be found than in the fact that it has been exported to 17 different foreign countries from Holland, and that in nearly every case icpeat orders havo come in. The Butch farmer believes in thoroughness and lso is well awaro of tho fact that the last half-pint of milk contains a relatively high percentage of fnt; consequently he exercises the greatest vigilance that his cows are milked perfectly dry, and for that rrnsou Mr. Sehaap snys that no milker should be given more than seven or eight cows. Of course labour is comparatively cheap here. The milking on a Dutch farm takes rdiico under thn most primitive, withal hygienic, conditions. During the six months tho cows are at piisturo they are simply gathered together in an open corra near the farm, or merely in a convenient corner of the field. Under no circumstances are they allowed to enter the barn until the winter season begins. The cows are extremely docilo; however, to expedite matters' the hind lo?s are tied together above the hook joints during milkiii" Xn concentrated fond or grain of anv kind is <;iven during the operation.' Hull* are never nllowed to run with Hie herd, and from Hie ago of iihoiit nimv mouths are- pinked in a convenient pasture us near i.n the burn as possible. Tim shiljo is changed several limes a day, but when the pastures arc i><:nr, liny or green ensilage may bo given them.

Chick-rearing is not only profitable, lint a pleasure, when you feed "A and 1' , Chick Kaiser. It is a complete and pro-perly-blondod food for Youn;,' (.'hicks. Obtainable from all storekeepers.—Advt. The number of subscriptions received from enrolled associates of the English •Church Union during the year 19H was 11,637, This, was a record, number,