Chapter XXX. 



KERRY CATTLE. 



This breed the only one of any prominence native to Ireland 

 has of late years found its way to America, and is attracting considerable 

 attention. In the volume of Consular Reports on Cattle and Dairy Farm- 

 ing, previously mentioned, Mr. Gumbleton refers to the " Kerry Cattle, 

 which are very pretty (small in size and black) and very good milkers." 

 Mr. Richard Good says the Kerries "are attracting more attention than 

 they did formerly, owing to the ease with which they are managed ; " and 

 that "they are particularly suited to mountain districts, which would 

 not properly feed Shorthorns." It may be here stated that the County 

 of Kerry, whence they derive the name, is the most mountainous, as it is 

 the most western, portion of the island. The Kerries form as nearly an 

 aboriginal breed as possible, tracing back to the wild "Forest" stock, 

 and showing the stages of improvement all through their history. 



Within the last three years, several small importations have been 

 made to the United States. The largest of which we have any know- 

 ledge, numbering eleven head, was made by Mr. Edward Kemp, of the 

 well-known firm of Lanham & Kemp, of New York city, in 1886. 



Mr. Kemp is proprietor of the "Locust Farm," Rumson Neck, 

 New Jersey, where his Kerries, Holstein-Friesians and Hambletonians 

 are now kept. 



DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS. 



Color black, but this is only a fashionable point of the last 10 or 

 15 years, so that black and white "line backs" and even reds are 

 still found. Low, in 1842, described them as "generally black, with a 

 white ridge along the spine ; " he further says that a white streak along 

 the belly was common, and other colors, such as brown, red and spotted 

 were met with. Breeders are now strictly adhering to the black coats, 

 and will in time eliminate all other colors. 



In size, the Kerry cattle are small, mature bulls weighing 800 to 

 1,100 Ibs., and cows from 600 to 800 Ibs. The head is small, with long 

 clean muzzle and thin lips ; eye expressive ; horns fine, short and white 

 "middle horns" usually turning upward; neck fine at head and 

 well set on to deep but narrow shoulders ; body gradually deepens to 

 the flank, but the rump is narrow and the thighs light. The dewlap is 

 rather scant, and the brisket small and close fleshed ; legs are neat and 



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