History
Migrants traveling through Europe 2000 years ago came across what would eventually become the Netherlands, a cold, northern country with limited natural resources. They needed a cow that could survive and thrive in that setting. Two types, the black Batavians and the white Friesians were bred for their superior characteristics, most notably their ability to produce a great deal of milk from limited feed. The black-and-white breed became known as Holsteins, and the productive cows finally made their way to the U.S. in 1852 aboard a Dutch ship. A single Holstein had provided enough milk for the crew during the journey across the Atlantic, and the value of the animal was immediately recognized. More were imported, and today over 22 million registered Holsteins graze in grassy fields and provide an average of nearly 24,000 pounds of milk per animal per year.