DAIRY CATTLE 289 



acres. Tlie climate is mild and market gardening is the chief 

 industry. The farms are small and the farming is done on an 

 intensive scale. 



Origin of the Jersey. — While definite historical records are 

 not available it is thought that the Jersey breed originated from 

 foundation animals brought from the mainland of France. The 

 cattle of Brittany and Normandy resemble the Jersey in many 



Fig, 150. — Jersey bull. Leda's Raleigh. Grand champion National Dairy 

 Show 1919. 



resj^ects. The purity of the Jersey breed has been guarded in 

 its native land. In 1763 laws were passed preventing the 

 importation of any cattle to the island except for slaughter 

 within twenty-four hours. 



, In size the Jersey is the smallest of the four leading dairy 

 breeds. Mature bulls usually weighing from twelve hundred to 

 fifteen hundred pounds and mature cows from eight hundred to 

 eleven hundred pounds. The breed matures early. The heifers 

 usually breeding earlier than the other dairy breeds. However, 

 the best age for them to freshen the first time is from twenty- 

 two to twenty-six months of age, if they are well grown. 



In color the breed shows considerable variation from very 

 light silver fawn to deep mulberry brown. White markings 

 may occur without indicating impurity of breeding. 



