148 GUERNSEY CATTLE. 



milking capacity. The more exposed conditions of the island 

 has resulted in the production of a hardier breed than in 

 Jersey; and it is stated with considerable degree of truth that 

 the Guernsey breeders have held more strictly to utility, and 

 paid less heed to non-essential fancy points, than the Jersey 

 breeders. In their development as a breed all indications 

 of milking qualities have been zealously searched for, and 

 respected. The Guernsey breeders lay great stress on the 

 skin as indicative of rich milk; they desire it to be a deep 

 yellow on all portions of the body, showing most particularly 

 in the ears, at end of tail, and about the teats, and seek for 

 an oily secretion in connection with such a skin. 



The breed has been kept pure since the early part of the 

 last century, and in consequence of the small area of the 

 island, and the small number of cattle not exceeding from 

 8,000 to 12,000 more or less inbreeding has occurred, though 

 to what extent is unknown, for breeding records have only 

 been kept in the last half century. The more or less in- 

 breeding that has undoubtedly occurred has aided in concen- 

 trating the blood, and has given to the Guernsey a fixity of 

 type far greater than would ordinarily have been the case. 



Originating in Normandy and Brittiany stock, crossed cen- 

 turies ago, and bred under intensive conditions, in a con- 

 fined area, for long years, the Guernsey has developed into 

 a milking cow of superior merit, being deep-bodied, with a 

 large barrel, a roomy frame, and a large udder, and they have, 

 through years of breeding, acquired milking properties of 

 the first order. 



