Holstein cattle
The Holstein is the black-and-white dairy cow that gives more milk than any other US dairy breed: around 23,000 lb a lactation, about 9 gallons a day, by the breed association's average. That is a great deal for one household to milk and use. It is also the largest US dairy breed, at 1,500–1,600 lb, and the easiest dairy breed to find.
Is the Holstein right for you?
Good fit if
- You want the most milk per cow. No other US dairy breed gives more
- You have a use for around 9 gallons of milk a day
- You want a breed that is easy to find; about 90% of US dairy cows are of Holstein descent
Poor fit if
- You want a small cow. A mature Holstein weighs about 1,500 lb
- You want a little milk for one household
- You want naturally hornless cattle. Most Holsteins are not polled
Appearance and varieties
Holsteins are large animals with patches of black and white or, less often, red and white. A mature cow weighs about 1,500 lb and stands 58 inches tall at the shoulder, which makes the Holstein the largest of the US dairy breeds. A healthy calf weighs 80 to 100 lb at birth.
Most Holsteins grow horns. The polled gene and the red-and-white gene are both uncommon in the breed, and the association says animals that carry either can be worth more for it.13
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milk per lactation | About 23,000 lb (2,674 gallons), or about 75 lb a day1 | Average cow over a standard 305-day lactation, from the breed association. |
| Tested-herd average, 2021 | 28,047 lb of milk, 1,121 lb of butterfat and 877 lb of protein a year3 | US Holstein herds enrolled in production testing and eligible for genetic evaluation. |
| Record | 78,170 lb of milk in a year1 | Set in 2017 by Selz-Pralle Aftershock 3918, a Wisconsin cow. |
| Calf birth weight | 80–100 lb1 | |
| First calving | 23–26 months of age3 | Heifers can be bred at 13 months, at about 800 lb. |
| Productive life | About 4 years on average32 | Time in the milking herd, not lifespan. Some cows live considerably longer. Oklahoma State's older page gives six years. |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
Holstein Association USA says dairy cattle of every breed need the same basics: a balanced diet, clean water, safe and comfortable housing, and basic veterinary care.
It describes the two common barn systems. In a freestall barn, cows live in large group pens with free access to feed, water and stalls bedded with sand, straw or a mattress, and walk to a parlour to be milked. In a tie-stall barn each cow keeps an assigned stall, is milked there, and is usually turned out to exercise for part of the day.
The association says Holsteins adapt to a wide range of environments and are found from coast to coast.1
Health
The association says the average productive life of a Holstein is about four years, though some cows live considerably longer.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. For help with dairy cattle care, the association suggests a local dairy producer, a vet or your county's dairy or agricultural extension agent.31
Similar breeds
| Breed | Cow weight | Bull weight | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holstein (this breed) | 1500–1600 lb | 2600 lb | ||
| Jersey | 800–1200 lb | 1200–1800 lb | $3500–$5500 |
History
The Holstein was developed in what is now the Netherlands, chiefly in the northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland. Close to 2,000 years ago the black cattle of the Batavians and the white cattle of the Friesians were bred together and strictly culled for animals that made the most milk from grass. The result was the black-and-white Holstein-Friesian.
Winthrop Chenery, a Massachusetts breeder, bought a Dutch cow from a ship's master who landed at Boston in 1852; she had supplied the crew with fresh milk on the voyage. He imported more in 1857, 1859 and 1861, and other breeders followed. About 8,800 Holsteins had been imported when cattle disease broke out in Europe and importation stopped.
The US herd-book associations merged in 1885 as the Holstein-Friesian Association of America, renamed Holstein Association USA in 1994. More than 22 million animals are registered in its herdbook.32
Common questions
How big do Holstein cows get?
A mature cow weighs about 1,500 to 1,600 lb and stands 58 inches tall at the shoulder. Holstein Association USA calls it the largest of the US dairy breeds.13
How much milk does a Holstein cow give?
The breed association puts the average at around 23,000 lb, or 2,674 gallons, per 305-day lactation. That is about 75 lb, almost 9 gallons, a day. Herds on official production testing averaged 28,047 lb a year in 2021.13
What colour are Holstein cattle?
Black and white, or red and white. The red-and-white colour comes from a recessive trait and is less common.1
Where do Holstein cattle come from?
The Netherlands, mainly the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. Winthrop Chenery, a Massachusetts breeder, bought a Dutch cow at Boston in 1852, and the US breed association dates from 1885.23
Do Holstein cows have horns?
Most do. Some Holsteins are polled, meaning born naturally without horns, but the breed association says the majority are not.1
What are Holstein cattle used for?
Milk. Holsteins give more milk than any other dairy breed in the United States, and cows of Holstein descent make up about 90% of the US dairy herd.1
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- Holstein Association USA, Holstein 101 (archived copy).
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Holstein Cattle (archived copy).
- Holstein Association USA, Holstein Breed Characteristics and History (archived copy).
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta Beef Breeds (with Alberta dairy breeds).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
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