LECTURE NO. 32. 



JERSEY CATTLE THEIR ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. This excellent breed of dairy cattle origi- 

 nated in the island of Jersey, which is a dependency 

 of Great Britain. 



(1) The island is about eleven miles long and considerably 

 less than that in width and contains 39.680 acres, of which 

 about 25,000 acres are tillable. 



(2) Dairy cattle and dairy products are the chief concern 

 of the farmers. 



II. It is generally believed that Jerseys are 

 descended from the cattle of Brittany and Nor- 

 mandy on the adjacent coast. 



(1) It has been claimed that they have been bred with 

 little or no admixture of alien blood for a period of 500 years. 



(2) Since 1789 the importation of other cattle into the 

 island has been strictly prohibited except for purposes of 

 slaughter. 



III. Improvement of the breed in Jersey. 



d) For more than 100 years the breeders of Jerseys have 

 steadily sought the improvement of the breed, more especially 

 in prolonged milk giving and in milk rich in butter fat. 



(2) To attain this end much care has been exercised in 

 breeding and selection during all those years, and 



(3) Along with these qualities they have secured much of 

 beauty and utility in their cows. 



IV. Management of cattle in Jersey. 



(1) They are pastured all the year during the day by the 

 tethering system. 



(2) From May to October they are put night and day, 

 except during the hottest portion of the day in midsummer. 



(3) In winter they are housed at night and the grass pas- 

 tures are liberally supplemented with hay and roots. 



I2 3 



