Holstein Friesian

An international breed of dairy cattle that originated in the region of Fryslan, stretching from the Dutch province of North Holland to the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, and has become the dominant breed in industrial milk production, present in more than 160 countries. Holstein Friesians are marked with a black and white or red and white piebald pattern and are prized above all for their milk output, averaging 10,220 kilograms of milk a year along with substantial butterfat and protein. Mature cows typically weigh 680 to 770 kilograms and stand 145 to 165 centimeters tall at the shoulder. The breed developed from cattle populations native to the Netherlands and northern Germany, originally bred for both milk and beef, and has since split into distinct European and North American breeding lines that each emphasize different production goals.