Javascript is required to use this website.

Beef Breeds: Holsteins

From the Beef Breeds of the World series

Ruth Nicolaus
Oct 2, 2019
Oct 2, 2019 Updated Jun 25, 2020

1 of 3

Prefer us on Google

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Ruth Nicolaus

If you enjoyed a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream today, it most likely came from a Holstein cow.

kAmw@=DE6:?D[ H:E9 E96:C H:56=J C64@8?:K65 3=24< DA@ED @? H9:E6 4@2ED[ 2C6 E96 “H@C<9@CD6” @7 E96 52:CJ H@C=5]k^Am

kAmp3@FE h_T @7 &]$] 52:CJ 96C5D 2C6 >256 FA @7 w@=DE6:?D[ 2 3C665 <?@H? H@C=5\H:56 7@C 36:?8 E96 9:896DE\AC@5F4:?8 @7 2== 52:CJ 4@HD]k^Am

kAm%96 3C665 @C:8:?2E65 :? tFC@A6 >@C6 E92? a[___ J62CD 28@[ E96 C6DF=E @7 >2E:?8 3=24< 42EE=6 7C@> E96 q2E2G:2? EC:36 2?5 H9:E6 42EE=6 7C@> E96 uC:6D:2? EC:36]k^Am

kAmw@=DE6:?D H6C6 :>A@CE65 E@ E96 &]$] :? `eb`[ 3FE 5F6 E@ 4C@DD3C665:?8[ E96 3=@@5=:?6D H6C6 =@DE]k^Am

kAmx? E96 `gd_D[ E96 2?:>2=D H6C6 :?EC@5F465 282:?[ E@ |2DD249FD6EED] %96J 5:65[ 5F6 E@ :==?6DD[ 3FE E96 72C>6C H2D D@ :>AC6DD65 H:E9 E96> E92E 96 :>A@CE65 2 3F== 2?5 7@FC 4@HD :? `ge`] ~E96C 72C>6CD[ D66:?8 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 E96 3C665[ 2=D@ :>A@CE65 w@=DE6:?D]k^Am

kAmx? `gfa[ E96 7:CDE 96C5 3@@< H2D AF3=:D965[ 4@?E2:?:?8 E96 A65:8C66D @7 `ga w@=DE6:? 42EE=6]k^Am

kAm{@H6== |F6==6C[ 2 52:CJ>2? 7C@> w@@A6C[ }63C2D<2[ 92D 366? :? E96 w@=DE6:? 3FD:?6DD D:?46 96 D9@H65 E96> :? c\w >@C6 E92? d_ J62CD 28@] x? 724E[ E96C6’D 366? 2 |F6==6C @? E96 72C>[ >:=<:?8 52:CJ 4@HD[ D:?46 `gef[ H96? {6H:D |F6==6C[ {@H6==’D 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?572E96C[ D6EE=65 E96C6]k^Am

kAmu@C |F6==6C[ 2D 7@C ?62C=J 2== 52:CJ AC@5F46CD 24C@DD E96 &]$][ w@=DE6:?D 2C6 AC@5F4E:G6]k^Am

kAm$E6G6 !6E6CD@?[ ?2E:@?2= D2=6D >2?286C 7@C E96 w@=DE6:? pDD@4:2E:@? &$p[ 4@?4FCDi “%96J 2C6 A@AF=2C 7@C E96:C G@=F>6 @7 >:=<[ 7665 677:4:6?4J[ AC@5F4E:G:EJ[ 2?5 E96 AC@7:E23:=:EJ E96J 3C:?8 E@ 52:C:6D]”k^Am

kAm%96 2G6C286 w@=DE6:? 2E ':G:6H u2C>D[ H96C6 |F6==6C 2?5 9:D H:76 {@:D =:G6 2?5 H@C<[ AC@5F46D 36EH66? f_ 2?5 fd A@F?5D A6C 52J] %92E H@C<D @FE E@ >@C6 E92? ab[___ A@F?5D A6C 4@H[ A6C J62C[ H9:49 :D ?62C=J ?:?6 82==@?D @7 >:=< A6C 4@H A6C 52J] %96 |F6==6CD >:=< EH:46 2 52J[ H9:=6 D@>6 52:C:6D >:=< E9C66 E:>6D 2 52J]k^Am

kAm%96 2?:>2=D 2C6 5@4:=6[ 96 D2:5i “*@F 42? 8@ :? >J 7C66DEJ=6 32C? 2?5 H2=< :? 36EH66? E96 4@HD 2?5 ?@E 36 3@E96C65] x? 724E[ D@>6 H@F=5 4@>6 FA 2?5 H2?E E@ =:4< J@F]”k^Am

kAmq6:?8 2>@?8 E96 42=G6D 2D E96J 2C6 C2:D65 >2<6D E96> >@C6 4@>7@CE23=6 2C@F?5 9F>2?D] r@HD H:E9 42=G6D 42? D@>6E:>6D 36 288C6DD:G6[ 3FE ?@E w@=DE6:?D]k^Am

kAm“%96J 2C6 >@C6 ECFDE:?8] %96J <?@H J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 E96>[” 96 25565]k^Am

kAmpD C6D62C49 2?5 D4:6?46 92G6 AC@8C6DD65[ D@ 92D <?@H=6586 @7 E96 3C665 2?5 42C6 7@C :E] sF6 E@ 36EE6C 86?6E:4D 2?5 >@C6 C6D62C49[ w@=DE6:?D AC@5F46 >@C6 >:=< ?@H E92? J62CD 28@]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 366? 23=6[ E9C@F89 86?6E:4D[ E@ :?4C62D6 AC@5F4E:@? DF3DE2?E:2==J[” |F6==6C D2:5] “(6’G6 2=>@DE 5@F3=65 H92E :E H2D c_ J62CD 28@]”k^Am

kAmxE’D >@C6 E92? 86?6E:4D[ E@@]k^Am

kAm“q6EE6C 7665 2?5 36EE6C 9@FD:?8 92G6 :?4C62D65 AC@5F4E:@?] (6’G6 =62C?65 2 =@E 23@FE ?FEC:E:@? 2?5 9@H E@ 42C6 7@C E96>] r@H 42C6 2?5 4@H 4@>7@CE :D E96 <6J[” 96 25565]k^Am

kAm%96 52:CJ >2C<6E 92D 366? 492==6?8:?8 7@C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD] !2CE @7 E92E :D 5F6 E@ E96 C6D62C49 E92E 92D 366? 5@?6 H:E9 E96 3C665]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 364@>6 D@ 677:4:6?E E92E H6 AC@5F46 >@C6 W>:=<X[” |F6==6C D2:5] “(6’C6 H@C<:?8 @FCD6=G6D @FE @7 2 ;@3 3J 36:?8 677:4:6?E]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Prevention important with spread of alpha-gal syndrome
Young Otoe County cattleman goes from showing to selling show cattle
Father-daughter duo turns milkweed into multi-faceted enterprise
Family-run flour mill adds value from field to table
Unique challenge chews at family
Alternative crops expand options in Midwest
Feeling blessed and deeply rooted in rookie mistakes
Butler County 4-H mentor puts heart into serving
Drones, robots, AI may hold the future to weed control strategies
A year of growth – for me and the ranch
Kuntz family farm celebrates 100 years
Zabel tells Ag Summit crowd the best investment is yourself
Record El Niño possible in 2027
Johnson zaps tough weeds in Red River Valley beet fields
Mentorship helps farmer’s cover crop plans succeed

kAm%96 4@?DF>6C >2C<6E 92D 492?865[ E@@] |:=< 4@?DF>AE:@? 92D D=:AA65[ 3FE E96 ?665 7@C E@E2= >:=< D@=:5D 92D :?4C62D65[ 5F6 E@ 2 D9:7E :? 9@H 52:CJ AC@5F4ED 2C6 4@?DF>65] %96 2G6C286 4@?DF>6C FD65 E@ 3FJ >:=< 3J E96 82==@? 2?5 5C:?< :E H:E9 >62=D[ |F6==6C D2:5]k^Am

kAm“}@H A6@A=6 5@?’E D:E 5@H? 2?5 92G6 >62=D 2E E96 E23=6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm|@C6 A6@A=6 2C6 @? E96 8@[ 2?5 2 =@E @7 52:CJ AC@5F4E:@? 92D >@G65 E@ D:?8=6\D6CG6 7@@5D] r966D6 4@?DF>AE:@? 92D :?4C62D65[ 2D 92D J@8FCE]k^Am

kAm“%96C6 2C6 @E96C H2JD 7@C 4@?DF>:?8 52:CJ AC@5F4ED @E96C E92? H9@=6 >:=<[” |F6==6C D2:5]k^Am

kAm~?6 @7 E96 DEC6?8E9D @7 E96 w@=DE6:? 3C665 =:6D :? 86?6E:4D] %9C@F89 E96 w@=DE6:? pDD@4:2E:@? &$p[ 52:CJ 72C>6CD 42? 49@@D6 E@ 4=2DD:7J E96:C 42EE=6] tG6CJ D6G6? @C `c >@?E9D[ D@>6@?6 7C@> E96 2DD@4:2E:@? EJA6 6G2=F2E6D |F6==6C’D 42EE=6[ D4@C:?8 E96> @? 5:776C6?E EC2:ED[ DF49 2D 8@@5 766E 2?5 =68D 2?5 2 8@@5 >2>>2CJ DJDE6>] |F6==6C 42? FD6 E96 D4@C:?8 E@ >2<6 564:D:@?D 23@FE <66A:?8 9:896C\D4@C:?8 42EE=6]k^Am

kAm$6I65 D6>6? :D 2=D@ 2G2:=23=6 7@C AFC492D6[ H:E9 2 h_T 76>2=6 C2E6] %92E 2==@HD 7@C 72DE6C 86?6E:4 :>AC@G6>6?E]k^Am

kAm~?6 25G2?E286 E@ E96 w@=DE6:? 3C665[ D2:5 !6E6CD@?[ :D E96 =2C86 2>@F?E @7 86?6E:4D 2G2:=23=6]k^Am

kAm“%96C6’D DF49 2 G2DE 2>@F?E @7 86?6E:4 23:=:EJ E@ :>AC@G6 E96 4@HD[ 3642FD6 E96C6’D 2 3:886C 86?6 A@@= E@ H@C< 7C@>[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmt249 @7 |F6==6C’D 42EE=6 :D C68:DE6C65] s2:CJ AC@5F46CD H6C6 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE 8C@FAD @7 42EE=6>6? 2?5 H@>6? E@ <66A C64@C5D 2?5 FD6 4@>AFE6C E649?@=@8J]k^Am

kAm“xE’D 2=H2JD 366? :>A@CE2?E 7@C FD E@ <66A C64@C5D[” |F6==6C D2:5] “%92E’D 9@H J@F :>AC@G6 J@FC 3C665[ H96? J@F <?@H E96 3=@@5=:?6D]”k^Am

kAm%96 w@=DE6:? pDD@4:2E:@?[ H9:49 8@E :ED DE2CE :? `ggd :? x@H2 r:EJ[ x@H2[ 367@C6 >@G:?8 E@ '6C>@?E[ :D E96 H@C=5’D =2C86DE 52:CJ 3C665 2DD@4:2E:@?] xE 92D @G6C a_[___ 25F=E >6>36CD 2?5 g[___ ;F?:@C >6>36CD]k^Am

kAm%96 2DD@4:2E:@? 7@4FD6D @? E96 4@?DF>6C[ 2=H2JD H@C<:?8 E@ 65F42E6 E96>]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 2=H2JD 2H2C6 @7 E96 4@?DF>6C[” !6E6CD@? D2:5[ “H92E E96J H2?E[ 2?5 9@H E@ AC6D6?E E96 AC@5F4ED E@ E96>] %92E :D 2 4@?DE2?E 492==6?86[ 6DA64:2==J H96? D@ >2?J 4@?DF>6CD 2C6 D@ C6>@G65 7C@> 28C:4F=EFC6] p =@E @7 E96> E9:?< E96 >:=< 4@>6D 7C@> E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6]”k^Am

kAm%96 2DD@4:2E:@? 92D 2 AC@8C2> 42==65 E96 *@F?8 s2:CJ {6256CD x?DE:EFE6 W*s{xX] xE’D 2? 2??F2= AC@;64E 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[ H@C<:?8 :? E96 52:CJ :?5FDECJ[ E@ 56G6=@A E96:C 4@>>F?:42E:@? D<:==D] ~G6C 2 EH@\J62C A6C:@5[ *s{x DEF56?ED 8@ E9C@F89 E9C66 A92D6Di !92D6 `[ E@ =62C? 9@H E@ 36 25G@42E6D 7@C E96 :?5FDECJ 2?5 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 4@?DF>6CDj !92D6 a[ H96C6 DEF56?ED :>A=6>6?E E96:C A=2? 2E 9@>6[ 2?5 !92D6 b[ H96? DEF56?ED C6EFC? E@ E96 x?DE:EFE6 E@ C6A@CE @? E96:C DF446DD 2?5 72:=FC6D]k^Am

kAm“xE 3F:=5D 2 ?6EH@C< 7@C E9@D6 A6@A=6[ E@ H@C< E@86E96C 2?5 E@ 86E E92E 4@?DE2?E ECFE97F= >6DD286 @FE E96C6[” !6E6CD@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 w@=DE6:? ;F?:@C AC@8C2> :D 2=D@ DEC@?8] |@DE DE2E6 2DD@4:2E:@?D 92G6 2 ;F?:@C AC@8C2>[ 2D H6== 2D 2E E96 ?2E:@?2= =6G6=]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 @FC >6>36CD E@52J 42>6 FA E9C@F89 E9@D6 AC@8C2>D H96? E96J H6C6 J@F?8[” !6E6CD@? D2:5]k^Am

kAm%9C66 DE2E6D – (:D4@?D:?[ }6H *@C< 2?5 !6??DJ=G2?:2 – 92G6 E96 >@DE w@=DE6:? pDD@4:2E:@? >6>36CD] pD E96 :?5FDECJ 492?86D[ E96 52:C:6D 92G6 8@EE6? 3:886C 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96> 92G6 D9:7E65 E@ E96 D@FE9H6DE6C? C68:@? @7 E96 &]$]k^Am

kAmu@C |F6==6C[ 96 =@G6D 9:D w@=DE6:?D]k^Am

kAm“x’G6 2=H2JD 76=E =:<6 E96J H6C6 AC@323=J E96 >@DE 677:4:6?E[ AC@5F4E:G6 4@H @? E96 A=2?6E] x’> ?@E AFEE:?8 5@H? 3667 42EE=6[ 3FE E96J >:89E 82:? E9C66 @C 7@FC A@F?5D 2 52J :? E96 7665=@E] |J 4@HD H:== AC@5F46 D:I E@ D6G6? A@F?5D @7 AC@E6:? 2?5 D@=:5D 6G6CJ 52J] %96J’C6 C62==J G6CJ 677:4:6?E 2?:>2=D]k^Am

kAm“w@=DE6:?D 2C6 G6CJ 562C E@ >J 962CE] x H@F=5?’E H2?E E@ 92G6 2?J @E96C 3C665]”k^Am

Holsteins

Arrival in U.S.: 1861

Current number of head in U.S.:

748,000 identified as Holsteins

National offices: Holstein Association

USA, 1 Holstein Place

Box 808, Brattleboro, VT 05302-0808

800-952-5200

www.holsteinusa.com

State associations:

Nebraska Holstein Association

State secretary Diane Ossenkop

402-540-2968

Kansas Holstein Association

State secretary Leihga Rokey

785-285-2714

Iowa Holstein Association

www.iowaholsteins.org

Secretary Paula Smith, 3422 140th St., Brooklyn, IA 52211

641-990-1892, langsmit@netins.net

Interesting breed fact: Holstein cattle have distinctive black and white markings, but may also be red and white (caused by a recessive genetic trait).

In this Series

Beef Breeds of the World

Updated Jun 10, 2021
Polled preference: Polled Herefords prized for personality traits, feed efficiency
Updated May 5, 2021
Best of both worlds
Apr 12, 2021
Braunvieh compliment other cattle breeds
28 updates