INFuRMATI'>X CON'CERMNG KERRY AND DKXTER CATTLE. 21 



If we take the milking trials at the National Dairy Show at Islington, 

 and travel over a number of years, we find that in one year eight Kerries 

 averaged •)<) pounds, or more than 3>^ gallons of milk per day, this milk 

 containing o.oo per cent fat. In another year twelve Kerries averaged 

 25^ pounds of milk per day. this milk containing the large proportion of 

 4.33 per cent of fat. while the solids not fat reached 9.2 per cent. Again, 

 in a third year, seven Kerries averaged 33^ pounds of milk, containing 

 3.(>9 per cent fat. In two other years the averages of ten cows in each 

 year were 27,!.'4 pounds of milk and 33 pounds of milk, the fat percentage 

 in one case 4.3{i and in the oiher 4.2(>. 



In official tests in 1916 and 191 7 in Ireland, under the super- 

 vision of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruc- 

 tion for Ireland, records ranged from 4812 pounds of milk as a 

 minimum to 8124 pounds as a maximum yield, forty-five weeks 

 being the extreme period of lactation. The butter-fat percentage 

 ranged from 3.4 to 4.9, the average being 4 per cent. From 

 what the author has seen of these cattle in Ireland he believes 

 the Kerry to be a milk-producing breed of much promise under 

 a judicious system of breeding and selection. 



The distribution of the Kerry is not general ; even in Ire- 

 land, where it is best known, the Shorthorn is the leading breed. 

 There are a number of excellent Kerry herds in England, but 

 very few of these cattle have been imported to America. There 

 are small herds in Australia and South Africa. In the United 

 States the principal herds are in New York, Missouri, and 

 Minnesota. 



Organizations for the promotion of Kerry cattle have 

 been in existence for some years. In 1887 a register was started 

 in Ireland by the owners of the Fanners' Gazette of Dublin, 

 which was taken over by the Royal Dublin Society after the 

 publication of three volumes of herdbooks. In 1890 this society 

 issued the first volume of the "Kerry and Dexter Herdbook," 

 and has continued doing so up to date. Seventeen volumes of 

 the Irish herdbook have been published, containing the total 

 entry up to 19 18 of 871 Kerry bulls and 2658 cows. An English 

 Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society, with headquarters in London, 

 was established in 1892 and has published eighteen herdbooks, 

 containing a total entry to 191 7 inclusive of 392 Kerry bulls 

 and 2098 cows. In 1917 an Irish Kerry and Dexter Cattle 

 Society was organized in Ireland to promote the welfare of the 

 breed. In 191 1 an American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club was 

 organized, but thus far has published no herdbook. Up to 1920 

 but 16 bulls and 61 cows have been recorded, and to this date 

 no important herd of Kerry cattle has been established in the 

 United States. 



