360 THE IRISH CATTLE INDUSTRY. 



were considered eligible by competent judges, together with those qualified 

 by previous entry in the Kerry Register, were accepted for Registration. 

 Nine annual volumes of this publication have been issued. They contain 

 pedigrees and other particulars of 492 bulls and 2,870 cows and heifers of 

 the Kerry breed, and 443 bulls and 1,682 Dexter cows and heifers. The 

 publication of the Herd Book has led to a large number of home breeders 

 in many parts of Ireland being induced to devote increased attention to the 

 matter of selection and systematic breeding, with a view to the improvement 

 of their cattle, while both breeds have, of late years, become popular in 

 many parts of England. It has been a source of regret that there has been, 

 and still IS, a disposition on the part of the breeders of Kerry to record such 

 animals only as were meant to be sold, and now, with the restricted condi- 

 tions of entry for the Herd Book, it is to be feared that many, perhaps 

 purely-bred, good animals may fail to qualify for registration through the 

 past neglect of their owners. No doubt, the Department of Agriculture and 

 Technical Instruction for Ireland, through the influence at its command, will 

 be able to bring before the breeders in the remote districts of Kerry the 

 great advantage of care and attention to the breeding and registration of 

 their stock. 



The following interesting extracts axe from the introduction of Volume 

 I of the Royal Dublin Society's Herd Book for Kerry and Dexter Cattle : — 

 "Writing in 1870 about the mountainous regions of West Kerry, Isaac 

 Wild says: — 



" ' This country was formerly remarkable for a very small and beautiful 

 breed of black cattle ; but the people have been seized with the spirit of improve- 

 ment, and the true Kerry cow, as it is called, is now rarely to be found, 

 excepting in the mountains in the vicinity of Bantry Bay. The size of this 

 animal does not exceed that of an ordinary yearling calf. From the prevalent 

 inclination of the people to discard the native stock of their hills, it is presumed 

 that they derive more profit from the enlarged breed ; but there are some of a 

 contrary opinion, who still maintain their attachment to the ancient race, and 

 who contend that, from their hardy character and the abundance and richness 

 of their milk, they are peculiarly adapted to the situation and circumstances of 

 the country.' 



" In the early part of the present century, the Royal Dublin Society under- 

 took a general survey of Ireland, for the purpose of developing the industrial 

 resources of the country. The County Kerry was not separately surveyed ; 

 but the adjoining County of Cork was surveyed for the Society by the Rev. 

 Horatio Townsend. The author refers frequently in the course of his survey 

 to the partiality of the farmers for the small breed of cattle for dairy purposes. 

 These cattle seem to have been closely related to the Kerries of the present 

 day. Referring to the cattle of Carbery, in the south-west of the county, he 

 says : — 



" * The cattle of this district, except those possessed by gentlemen, are of a 

 small size, seldom weighing more than three hundred and a-half weight, and 

 frequently not more than two. The breed is now a mixed one, of various 

 colours ; formerly they were all black. In the more remote and mountainous 

 parts of the district this colour still predominates ; but few, I believe, of the 

 pure native breed at present remain. They are, in general, good milkers — 

 eight pottles or sixteen quarts a day being no uncommon produce from a cow 

 of three hundredweight. The usual price for a new milch cow of this descrip- 

 tion is from eight to ten guineas. Small beasts of all kinds are preferred by the 



