228 MILCH CATTLE THE GUERNSEY 



hair about the head of the Jersey is absent. The muzzle is 

 flesh-coloured, although black is not always, at least in 

 America, objected to when it does appear. The nostrils are 

 more rounded and not so dilated as those of the Jersey. 

 Black and brindled specimens, though few, having been bred 

 out, are said to be the hardiest and the best milkers. 



The climate of Guernsey, with its northern aspect, is not 

 so genial as that of Jersey, with its sunny southern exposure, 

 and consequently the cattle are hardier, and more inured to 

 cold on their arrival in England than those from Jersey. 

 The latter, it is true, become acclimatised in a few years, and 

 their descendants retain their hardiness, but they also lose the 

 refined delicacy of skin and form, and become stronger in 

 frame and altogether coarser. Some strains of Island-bred 

 cows in high condition are too broad at the withers, but on 

 their losing condition as a result of heavy milking, the 

 shoulder-top becomes sharp, as it ought to be. Apart from 

 these, poor-milking cows sometimes occur of a beefy type, and 

 should be discarded as breeders of keeping stock. Young 

 animals are not too highly fed, which would tend to make them 

 heavy and coarse, but the calves arc made to follow the cows 

 at pasture to clean up what the cows reject. 



Guernsey butter is considerably deeper in colour than 

 Jersey butter, and 10 Ibs. to 12 Ibs. a week is a good return 

 from a cow kept in an ordinary natural way. The richer 

 colour, together with the possibility of selling the calves at a 

 better price than Jersey calves, owing to the thin condition 

 of the latter, has raised the Guernsey in favour with dairy 

 farmers in this country. A further inducement is the greater 

 weight of the animal as compared with the Jersey, as it gives 

 better results when dry and fed for beef. A four-year-old 

 Guernsey steer produces beef of excellent quality in every- 

 thing but colour, but it would not pay a farmer on highly 

 rented land to feed so slowly. Yellow carcases found among 

 American chilled beef are sent to be consumed in Guernsey, 

 where the colour is not objected to. In estimating the 

 various qualities of the breeds, one is liable to overlook the 

 fact that five Jerseys can be kept on about the same amount 

 of food as four Guernseys or three Shorthorns. 



Calving heifers of good quality can be bought in the 

 Island, after much parleying with the breeder owners, who are 



