Largest breed of dairy cattle

The largest breed of dairy cattle is the Friesian (known as the Holstein in the USA), which originated in the Netherlands. An adult can attain an average height of 147 cm at the shoulder, and can weigh 580 kg. It accounts for approximately 90% of all commercial dairy animals, and is readily recognized by its black-and-white coat pattern, although solid black, solid white and red-and-black varieties also occur (the latter, known as red Friesians, are caused by a recessive mutant gene). This breed derives its common names from the Dutch province of Friesland and the German state of Schleswig-Holstein – two regions where it was first bred and developed.