CHAPTER II 



The Origin of the Guernsey Cow 



It must be confessed that the origin of Guernsey cattle 

 is lost in mystery. The common statement is that they are 

 a development from a cross between the large red cattle of 

 Normandy and the small red cattle of Brittany. I have been 

 able to find little direct proof to substantiate such a claim. 

 While searching for evidence on this point, I found that the 

 subject had been one of special investigation by the monks 

 in charge of the Les Vauxbelets Agricultural College, Guern- 

 sey. Their theory seems to be the most probable of all that 

 I found, and I present it here in the words of B. J. Ananias, 

 professor of agriculture in that school. If there is any founda- 

 tion of fact at all in this theory of the origin of the Guernsey, 

 I think it is as stated in his letter. He writes as follows : 



"Though the origin of the Guernsey cow be lost for want of 

 definite historical records, inferences from the known history of the 

 people and from analogies of qualities and habits of the cattle in 

 question permit the observer and student to draw conclusions which 

 seem to point out the very breed that have, in days of yore, contributed 

 to the shaping and molding of the excellent modern Guernsey. 



"1. One is prompted, by study and comparisons, to say that the 

 most prominent ancestor of the Guernsey cow is the breed, not yet 

 extinct, called 'Froment du Leon,' in Brittany, France. This 'Froment 

 du Leon/ as to the size of frame, is a very small breed, much smaller 

 than the present Guernsey, but possessing the same markings, quite 

 distinct on the animal; namely, red and white, fawn and white, etc. 

 It is active, gaudy, with bright eyes, and is quiet at milkings. It is 

 in truth a charming little gem. 



"One of the reasons of its smallness may be ascribed to the 

 country where it is bred and lives; there the grass is scanty and short, 

 and the animal has to work hard to pick up a full feed. Another 

 reason is the neglect with which the young stock is raised, the little 

 care taken of it by the breeder even unto this day, except a few well- 

 to-do gentlemen who lately have taken steps to improve it by severe 

 selection, better housing, and, above all, better feeding. 



"Though the 'Froment du Leon' animal be small, it gives a good 

 flow of milk proportionate to the bulk of the beast. In full milk it 

 produces up to 30 pounds daily of rich, yellow milk, from which butter 

 of the finest quality is made. 



"Hence by close analogy this cow seems to be the leading origin- 

 ator of our modern Guernsey. 



"2. The second source from which the Guernsey has been formed 

 was the introduction of Norman blood of the brindle variety of cattle, 

 which is yet to be found in the rich butter district of Tsigny, re- 

 nowned as producing the best French butter. This Norman brindle 

 breed is much heavier than either our modern Guernsey or the old 



