80 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



FOREIGN BREEDS. We have already described the Guernsey and 

 Jersey breeds, which are universally claimed as those of the Channel 

 Islands. They are more celebrated and useful as milkers than as fatten- 

 ing stock. The Jerseys may be said to be the amateur's or gentleman's 

 stock, as from their comparatively small size,their graceful form and gentle 

 habits, they are better fitted for the small lawn-like pastures of those 

 classes than are our larger and more ponderous breeds of native cattle. 

 Considerable numbers are exported from the Island of Jersey for this 

 purpose. 



But the amateurs' breed, par excellence, is the "Brittany" or 

 Morbihan breed. There was once quite a mania in this country for 

 animals of this breed, and large numbers were brought over which 

 fetched high prices. This has greatly, if not wholly died away, although 

 numbers are yet to be seen. The great charm which the animals of 

 this breed possessed for amateurs, who had but very limited expanse 

 of grass for feeding purposes, was in their exceedingly small size, their 

 docile habits, and the small extent of pasture which sufficed for 

 their feeding. Not only small in size, they are graceful in their move- 

 ments, and thus add to, rather than detract from, the attractions of 

 lawns, for feeding on which they are well adapted. Another character- 

 istic, which rendered this breed peculiarly welcome to gentlemen or 

 amateur farmers, was their undoubtedly high milking qualities. Some, 

 indeed, yielded extraordinarily large quantities, taking into considera- 

 tion the small bulk of the animals, and the little food they consume. 

 The milk is, moreover, rich in quality, and yields a high proportion of 

 butter. The breed is not now as already hinted so " fashionable" 

 as it was some years ago, for after any undue excitement there is always 

 a reaction ; but it possesses beyond any doubt qualities which befit it 

 for the increased and increasing class who " love to farm a bit." It 

 has been suggested to try the effect of crossing it with some of our own 

 small breeds, as the Kerry cow, for instance, which is notoriously a 

 good milker ; or with those of the Channel Islands. The colour of the 

 Brittany cow is generally black and white ; its height only from thirty- 

 two to forty-two inches. The form is symmetrical, head fine, short, with 

 well-defined outlines, small muzzle, ears small and well set on, with 

 fine small horns, well set on the head, curving outwards and upwards, 

 the points approaching each other. The neck is fine and slender, the 

 brisket small and not generally prominent. As in all well-bred animals, 

 the back is level, but well set in ; the withers are well formed, and loins 

 broad and long. The fore-quarters are roomy, affording ample space for 

 development of the lungs ; the legs are short but muscular, and remark- 

 ably fine, giving a generally graceful appearance. The hide is fine, 

 giving a good touch ; the udder (in the cow) is large. One good point in the 

 breed is their hardy constitution ; they can bear exposure to extremes 

 of temperature, and can feed and thrive well, and yield good supplies 

 of milk, on scanty pastures on which others would do but very 

 poorly, even allowing for the difference in size. Although we have 

 given a generally favourable description of the Brittany cow, still it 

 need scarcely be said that there are specimens which do not come up 

 to this standard. 



