CHAPTER XXXVII 



THE KERRY 



The native home of Kerry cattle is in southwestern Ireland in the 

 county of Kerry. This is one of the wildest and most picturesque 

 sections of Ireland, with mountains rising above three thousand 

 feet and with the famous Killarney lakes in the setting. The 

 climate is moist and fairly temperate. Agricultural conditions are 

 inferior. 



The origin of the Kerry is as uncertain as that of other British 

 breeds. From time immemorial it has been bred in Ireland, 

 where it is known as the " poor man's cow." The opinion of 

 British students is that this is a descendant from the smaller type 

 of aboriginal cattle of that country, of the same character as the 

 dark-colored cattle of Britain. Nothing more is known. The 

 development of the breed has mainly rested with the Irish farmers 

 or tenants, who keep but small herds. 



The introduction of the Kerry to America was probably first made 

 in 1859 by Sanford Howard of Boston, Massachusetts, who im- 

 ported for Arthur W. Austin a bull and five two-year-old heifers. 

 In 1860 he imported a second bull, the first having died, and 

 two heifers. Since that period Kerry cattle have been imported 

 to the United States in a small way up to the present time. 



Characteristics of Kerry cattle. This is a distinct dairy type 

 breed, with the following special characteristics : The color should 

 always be a solid black, with no white on the body in case of the 

 bull ; with the cow a slight amount of white on the udder or under- 

 line, while undesirable, does not disqualify. The lean head of the 

 cow carries upstanding, slender white horns with black tips, 

 which often turn back ; the bull's horns are shorter than those of 

 the cow, but are commonly erect, with the tips turned back. The 

 neck is slender and long, the withers fine, the back strong and 

 well carried, the depth of body only moderate, the rump tending 

 to be somewhat sloping, the thighs muscular, and the legs slender 



43* 



