livestock Archives – J. G. Coleman Photography

Yankee Farmlands № 61 (Holstein cows on Connecticut's largest dairy farm, Ellington, Connecticut) — “Yankee Farmlands № 61”
Holstein cows on Connecticut’s largest dairy farm, Ellington, Connecticut
© 2016 J. G. Coleman

Hazy clouds glide over flatlands in Northern Connecticut where we find a sprawling farm bounded only by the soft contours of distant hills. Before us, a herd of dairy cattle mingle about, some wandering casually while others are content to lounge upon the ground in the warm springtime sun.

Ask just about anyone to describe a cow from memory and they will almost certainly mention the blotchy, black and white pattern of the iconic Holstein. This exceptionally popular breed accounts for 90% of the dairy livestock in the United States, owing largely to its remarkable knack for milk production. The average Holstein yields around 25,000 gallons of milk per year; exceptional specimens can supply 70,000 gallons!

And while we’re on the topic of impressive numbers, it’s worth mentioning that the Holsteins seen in this piece are just a handful of the 4,000 kept on 2,800 acres at Connecticut’s largest dairy farm. An operation of that size is remarkable for a small and crowded state like Connecticut, especially when you consider that the average US dairy farm only keeps around 200 cows.

Purchase a Fine Art Print or Inquire About Licensing

Click here to visit my landing page for “Yankee Farmlands № 61” to buy a beautiful fine art print or inquire about licensing this image.

Want to See More?

Be sure to check out all of the work in my on-going Yankee Farmlands project.

Highland Cow (Roxbury, Connecticut) — “Highland Cow, 2015”
Roxbury, Connecticut
© 2016 J. G. Coleman

If you follow the work that I release each week, you’ve surely noticed regular installments of my Yankee Farmlands project, essentially an on-going photographic celebration of Connecticut’s agricultural heritage.

I released the first photograph in the series, “Yankee Farmlands № 1”, about 1½ years ago in September of 2014. Later this week, I’ll be rolling out “Yankee Farmlands № 58”. Suffice it to say that this has been a long and enjoyable endeavor and I’m certainly not done yet!

What you may not know is that I end up producing far more work during my travels than I can possibly fit into the formal project series. So, I’ve resolved to release some of these pieces from time to time. I produced this “portrait” at a hilly pasture in Roxbury where I discovered a herd of shaggy Highland Cattle idly grazing away during the final days of autumn last year.

Purchase a Fine Art Print or Inquire About Licensing

Click here to visit my landing page for “Highland Cow, 2015” to buy a beautiful fine art print.

Want to See More?

Be sure to check out all of the work in my on-going Yankee Farmlands project, a journey throughout Connecticut’s countryside in celebration of the agricultural heritage of New England.