GUERNSEY CATTLE. 233 



Disease among cattle is a thing comparatively unknown in 

 Guernsey. The majority of premature deaths occur from 

 calving or milk fever, but these are very rare. Every pre- 

 caution is taken to prevent diseased cattle being imported, and 

 •equal precaution is observed with regard to the native cattle 

 coming in contact even with the healthy importations. 



Gruernsey heifers are frequently in calf at the age of two 

 years, and, having calved, they yield milk to the age of fifteen, 

 and often beyond that time, being dry at intervals to the extent 

 of only from three to six weeks each time. It is sometimes 

 urged that heifers are permitted to breed too young ; but the 

 experience of many, if not most, Guernsey breeders is that the 

 cows are not a whit the worse for it. 



In England there exists a strong prejudice against cow beef, 

 but the method of feeding in Guernsey is such as to render the 

 flesh of the cow as delicate as the heifer, that is, so far as the 

 prime joints are concerned. Flesh-making is avoided until the 

 animal has run dry, and its time has come for slaughter ; then 

 attention is turned to the clothing of bone and sinew with new 

 flesh, which, when killed and brought to table, is found to be 

 as tender and delicious as can be desired. 



Since the former edition of this work the Guernsey cattle 

 have advanced in favour more rapidly, perhaps, than any other 

 breed. To start with their island home, larger prices have 

 been realised than ever before. A cow has been sold to America 

 for 400Z., others have been shipped to the States at prices up to 

 150/. ; lOOZ. for a cow is not at all an uncommon thing ; but 

 such prices as these have only been for the best, and the dairy 

 history of whose ancestry was good, and whose pedigrees were 

 traceable and reliable. In fact, the demand for trustworthy 

 information as to pedigree had increased so much, that it led 

 to the formation of a herd book by Mr. James James, of Les 

 Vauxbelets, and other gentlemen, on the principle of selection. 

 One volume was published, and shortly after this work was 

 taken over by the Royal Guernsey Agricultural Society, who 

 carried on the selection principle on the following lines : No 

 animal was admitted that had not been adjudicated on by 

 judges appointed by the society, and received at least a com- 

 mendation. Such animals, even though pedigree was wanting, 



