Dairy Cattle 



355 



so well adapted to the wide range of climate conditions that 

 they are to be found in large numbers in all parts of the country. 



The Jerseys are the smallest of the chief dairy breeds, the 

 cows averaging in weight from 700 to 1000 pounds and the bulls 

 from 1200 to 1800 pounds. The color is variable, ranging 

 through all shades of brown and black, and various shades 

 of fawn, yellow, red, and brindle. With the colors there may 

 or may not be present large or small patches of white; those 

 animals showing white patches are known as broken-colored 

 and those without, as solid-colored animals. Characteristics 

 usually present in 

 Jerseys are a black 

 muzzle, which is 

 surrounded by a 

 ring of light-colored 

 skin and hair, a 

 black tongue, and a 

 black switch. 



In their native 

 home the Jerseys 

 have been bred for 

 high butter produc- 

 tion and not for 

 high milk yield. American breeders have accomplished much 

 toward increasing the milk yield and at the same time have 

 kept up the percentage of fat in the milk. As found in America 

 to-day, the Jersey gives a moderate quantity of milk that is 

 rich in fat, averaging about 5 per cent ; in the quantity of 

 butter that can be made from the milk, she ranks very high. 

 Fig. 143 shows Eminent's Bess, a high-yielding Jersey cow. 

 Study the Jersey characteristics of this animal. 



Guernsey. Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, is the 

 native home of this breed. The original stock, like that of 

 Jersey, came from the mainland of France and has been de- 

 veloped by careful breeding and selection of the animals. The 



FIG, 143. Jersey cow, Eminent's Bess, 209,719. 

 Yearly record, 18,781 pounds, 15.6 ounces milk 

 testing 962 pounds, 13.2 ounces fat equal to 1132 

 pounds, 12 ounces butter. 



