THE FRIESIAN COW.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 June 1924, Page 4

THE FRIESIAN COW.

THU PROGRESS OF THE BREED. The Friesian breed is one of the oldest known cattle breeds in the- world, representing a development of over twenty centuries, and tracing its origin to the Friesian and Batavian peoples who settled near the shores of the North Sea before .the time of Christ, bringing with them their cattle, which were apparently of Asiatic origin. Of course the breed was not always known as we know it to-day, since during the greater part of that period of evolution it is most unlikely that the principles of breeding were' at all clearly understood, or that any definite plan was followed. In spite of this, the merits of the breed as heavy producers were such as to he written and spoken of even as far back as the time of the Roman Empire. -• While Holland must ever be regarded as the home of the breed, it is curious that its greatest producers have been bred and developed in other countries, principally North America, from stock imported from Holland. This is due to the fact that the Dutch have never set out to break production records, .but rather have concentrated upon securing a uniformity and fixity of type' that is probably not equalled by any other breed in the world. The first Friesians to be brought to New Zealand were imported from Holland in 1884. while later considerable numbers of pure Dutch descent came from Australia, and although t-hese importations were of sterling merit New Zealand breeders generally look upon the cattle imported from the North American Continent as having .laid the real foundation of the breed in this country. With regard to America, the first cows of the breed to land there were, in all probability, taken over by the early Dutch settlers about the year 1621. but the first definite record is of two bulls and six cows taken over in 1795. These, however, were allowed to mingle with the native cattle, and their identity was lost, a. similar fate befalling other scattered importations made prior to 1852, which year is regarded as marking the first establishment of the breed there. From 1852 up to 1905 a total of 7757 animals were imported, and in this connection it is significant to find that out of that great number the real foundation of the Friesian aristocracy in America rests upon about- three dozen outstanding animals. Tt .must not he supposed that the other 991- per. cent, of the imported cattle made no contribution towards the progress of the breed, but this small group of about, three dozen, by the number of times they appear in the pedigrees of the greatest producers, both in short-time and longtime tests, as well as in the pedigrees of the- leading show-ring winners, justify the conclusion that their prepotency has been almost entirely responsible for the supremacy of the Friesian breed in both the United States and Canada, at the present day. Even as far back as 1902, when Mr. Newton King imported the first American Friesians to New Zealand, the outstanding ability and transmitting power of these strains were recognised, and as Mr. King was out to purchase the best that money could buy, his selections had to. be bred strongly along these lines, and it is indeed fortunate toi the history of the breed in this country that they were. These importations and their achievements will he referred to again later. The first cow in the world to. reach a production of 10001 b of fat in a year m, American Friesian, Pontiac Clotmld De Kol 2nd, who completed oT*" fat on November 77’ w” • Din ing the twelve years that have elapsed since that date a total of approximately one hundred fooo)L 0f “l 1 breo(h ha '*e reached the I'wJlb mark, and of that- number not less than eighty have been Friesians. luither than tliat, those who nut their iaitn in the great black and whites nomt with pride to the fact that thev hold every world’s record for buttertat production, and as producers stand supreme m ; every country where they have become established On Thursday, the 3rd’ Julv. an aue- ' T.inn sale will bo held in Hawera. of nigh class friesians. comprising stock min sonic of the most select herds i» the Dominion.