CATTLE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF BREEDS. 765 



and warmer in winter than ours. Our climate is more liable to 

 extremes of heat and cold, and protracted droughts, and this 

 difference accounts for the difference in yield. Cows of this 

 breed imported to this country, and accompanied by certificates 

 of their yield in Ayrshire, have here given about two-thirds as 

 much, but, even with this falling, off, are accounted good milkers. 



The Jerseys Alderney Guernsey or Channel 

 Island Cattle. Practically these are all one breed of cattle, 

 but have been variously named as they were brought from one or 

 another of the Channel Islands. These cattle were introduced 

 into the United States as early as 1820, and about 1850, large 

 importations were made. During the decade from 1870 to 1880, 

 great interest was awakened in the breed, and large and fre- 

 quent importations made. There is a strong and bitter opposi- 

 tion to these cattle on the part of many farmers on account of 

 their small size, but they are exceedingly popular with villagers 

 who keep but one cow, as they are delicate and fawn-like in 

 appearance, and produce large quantities of rich, yellow cream 

 and butter, in proportion to the amount of milk they give. 



There are on record many remarkable yields of butter from 

 individuals of this race, sixteen to eighteen pounds, and even 

 more having been made in a week. This was under high feed- 

 ing and extra care, and must not be taken as an average, or 

 even a result easily attained; but still there is no disputing the 

 fact of the superior richness and high color of Jersey milk. 

 Another fact has added to their popularity, and that is, that the 

 grades descended from native dams and Jersey sires partake 

 largely of the superior butter-producing quality of the breed, 

 and often, with improved size, are found nearly, or quite as 

 valuable for the dairy as the thorough-bred. A half-blood Jersey 

 raised in my neighborhood, made fifty-one and one-half pounds 

 of butter in May, after dropping her second calf. 



The Jersey is simply a milking cow, and should be bred for 

 this purpose and no other, and yet Youatt says of them : " One 

 excellence it must be acknowledged, that the Alderneys possess ; 

 when they are dried, they fatten with a rapidity that would be 

 scarcely thought possible from their gaunt appearance. 



