2 5 



CATTLE 



of those regions to-day do not closely resemble the Jersey, they 

 have some things in common. The fawn or white color has been 

 attributed to certain cattle of Normandy, while the blacker color 

 has been ascribed to the Brittany cattle, it being assumed that 

 the Jersey has resulted from the fusing of these French types. 

 Historically the first description regarding the Jersey that the 

 author has secured, showing its resemblance to the breed of 

 to-day, was by Culley in 1789, who comments on the introduc- 

 tion into England of French or Alderney cattle, to ornament the 

 grounds of the nobility and gentry and to provide rich milk. The 

 term "Alderney " thus used applied to any of the Channel Island 

 cattle, and the use of this word in America for many years was 

 no doubt due to the English inheritance. 



The protection of the purity of cattle on Jersey dates back into 

 early colonial times. The value of preserving the character of 

 the breed was recognized as early as 1763, when laws were passed 

 by the legislature of Jersey prohibiting the importing of cattle 

 from France to the island. In 1789 an act was passed making 

 it a severe crime, heavily punishable, to bring any cattle to 

 Jersey from France, excepting for immediate slaughter. Gradu- 

 ally other restrictions were added to prevent cattle coming to 

 Jersey from any other country, excepting for slaughter within 

 twenty-four hours. 



The improvement of the old Jersey type really began in a 

 general movement on the part of the islanders. In 1833 the 

 Royal Jersey Agricultural Society was organized, with the view 

 among other things of improving the cattle. In 1834 the society 

 originated a score card for Jerseys, amounting to twenty-five points 

 for the bull and twenty-seven for the cow. This card was used 

 at the first show of cattle on the island, which also was held in 

 1834. Comments by the judges were that the cattle were poor 

 of shape, had bad udders, some females had short, bull necks, 

 were heavy in shoulder, etc. The application of the score card, 

 which was revised in 1838, 1849, 1851, and 1858, was enforced, 

 and the cattle of the island gradually and rapidly improved. This 

 work was due to the joint efforts of the members of the agricul- 

 tural society, though Colonel Le Couteur was a leader in this 

 movement on the island. The practice of selection was followed 



