Frisian

Frisian usually refers to:

Frisian or Friesian may also refer to:

Animal breeds

Holstein Friesian cattle

Holstein Friesians (often shortened as Friesians in Europe, and Holsteins in North America) are a breed of cattle originating from the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland, and what is now Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany. They are known as the world's highest-production dairy animals.

The Dutch and German breeders bred and oversaw the development of the breed with the goal of obtaining animals that could best use grass, the area's most abundant resource. Over the centuries, the result was a high-producing, black-and-white dairy cow.

With the growth of the New World markets began to develop for milk in North America and South America, and dairy breeders turned to the Netherlands for their livestock. After about 8,800 Friesians (black pied Germans) had been imported, disease problems in Europe led to the cessation of exports to markets abroad.

In Europe, the breed is used for milk in the north, and meat in the south. Since 1945, European national development has led to cattle breeding and dairy products becoming increasingly regionalized. More than 80% of dairy production is north of a line joining Bordeaux and Venice, which also has more than 60% of the total cattle. This change led to the need for specialized animals for dairy (and beef) production. Until this time, milk and beef had been produced from dual-purpose animals. The breeds, national derivatives of the Dutch Friesian, had become very different animals from those developed by breeders in the United States, who used Holsteins only for dairy production.

Friesian chicken

The Friesian is an ancient breed of chicken from the Netherlands, and in particular Friesland. Though they appear in many colours within the Netherlands and Germany, varieties are limited elsewhere.

Characteristics

Friesian cocks weigh 1.4–1.6 kg and hens 1.2–1.4 kg. The Friesian is a flighty breed that has retained many of its wild instincts, such as strong flight and foraging abilities; however, one feral trait it has not kept is a high susceptibility towards broodiness. It shares these behaviors with other Light Continental breeds such as the Campine, and Lakenvelder. Even though the breed lays smallish eggs, it is quite productive. This breed is a layer of white eggs.

See also

References