In 1964, a new breeding goal of 6,000 kg milk with 4 % fat, together with better development of body capacity, was set out for German black-and-whites. This aim was achieved by crossing German black-and-whites with Holstein Friesians from North America. Imported from Europe, the European Holstein Friesians in the U.S. had been exclusively selected for milk production since 1871. Due to the traditionally high meat consumption in the U.S., breeding of particular beef cattle breeds was established very early. As there was, in contrast to the numerous requirements in Europe, no demand for highly productive dual purpose cattle in North America, a pure dairy breed had been rapidly developed there from the European dual purpose cattle. Since 1989, German pedigrees do not show the Holstein Frisian percentage of the animal, as from that time, the Holstein percentage of younger black-and-white generations was almost 100 %. Nowadays, the German Holsteins and German Red Holsteins are aiming for milk production of at least 10,000 kg milk with 4 % fat and 3.5 % protein per lactation.