No use being a cow criminal- they can tell you apart a mile off!

Did you know that the black and white pattern on each Holstein cow is as unique as a human fingerprint?  Neither did we!  It seems that no two cows have the same spot pattern, so although we might feel like we can’t tell one from the other when they’re in a herd, we most certainly can!

Today, Holsteins are known as the cattle most efficient in milk production.  Originating in the North Holland and Friesland, they were a cross breed of the black Batavian cattle and white Frisian cattle; these tribes, both residing near the Rhine around 2000 years ago, succeeded in creating a highly achieving breed- indeed, it has been noted that when milked twice daily, a top producing Holstein can provide up to 67, 914 pounds of milk a year.  On milking, there are 350 squirts per gallon- that’s a whopping 23, 769, 900 squirts a year! Imagine doing that without a machine!!The Holsteins were introduced to Britain from the Netherlands in the 17^th-18^th century, and were used as the basis for many other British cattle breeds. 

Holsteins are extremely sociable animals.  Like humans, they bonds with each other to varying degrees.  It is not uncommon within a herd for some cows to get on better, and for them to avoid those that they do not communicate with as well.  Their “mooing” noises vary depending on who they are trying to talk to, and different body positions and facial expressions are used in order to do this. 

You may have heard about resident Holstein at H@ME Interiors-Silly Cow and her baby, Silly Calf, who are doing a fantastic job working for the Herts and Essex Air Ambulance, raising the vital funds needed to keep their crucial work going month by month.  For more information on her, please visit www.sillycow.org.  In the meantime, why not start your very own dairy farm in your back yard and treat yourself to a Holstein or three.  It’s very fashionable to be a farmer these days. Mooooove with the times!!