The Holando-Argentino is the main breed for milk production in Argentina. It was introduced into the country from Holland in 1880 by President Julio A. Roca, importing them to the provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe and Buenos Aires. In 1890 they already appeared in National Exhibition organized by the Rural Society of Argentina with large numbers of them being exported by the Dutch government.

While originally kept as a dual-purpose breed for both meat and milk production, the Argentine Holstein is primarily kept for milk production in more recent times.

The Holando-Argentino cows are medium sized with a height of 1.40 to 1.5 meters. These animals have a large stomach allowing them to have a high intake of grass.

Their adult weight is between the 600 and 650 kg, which together with an excellent conformation of legs and hooves, facilitates their foraging. This is important because in Argentina --unlike other countries where cattle is grainfed in feedlots-- a cow may travel an area of 5 square km foraging. Walking allows the cows to grow and develop in the way that nature intended.

The breed has fine skin, flat bones, fine neck, wide nose and a mammary system of excellent texture, with good udder attachments, ligament and teat placement. The Holando-Argentino has good longevity, typically having five calvings in a lifetime.

Since 1944, the Holando-Argentino Breeders Association has promoted the breed and provides technical support to breeders and milk producers. The Association has maintains an open herdbook with a series of evaluations an animal must pass. This evaluation is possible only through the "Official Milk Control" system, gathering data on each animal for the central system.

The Holando-Argentino has been exported to several bordering countries to use in herd improvement, increasing the milk production.

Source: ACHA (Asociación de Criadores de Holando-Argentino)