THE CHANNEL ISLAND BREEDS 



49 



good pastures and liberal feeding for good returns. They 

 do better than the Holstein on rough and scanty pastures, 

 but are not equal to the Ayrshire in this respect. They are 

 best adapted for a mild climate, and better adapted than 

 other breeds for warm southern climates. 



As meat producers they stand low, even for dairy breeds. 

 The body fat is very yellow and is not well distributed. The 

 calves are small, weighing usually between 50 and 60 pounds 

 at birth, and do not gain rapidly for the first few weeks. 

 For this reason they are not well adapted for veal production. 

 If Jersey calves are raised for meat, they should usually be 

 sold by the time they are eight or ten months old. 



This breed is very prepotent when crossed upon common 

 cattle or grades of other breeds. The cross usually partakes 

 strongly of the Jersey type and milking qualities. The 

 heifers mature young. They are usually sufficiently well 

 developed to come into milk at the age of 22 or 24 months. 



Dairy Characteristics. Reports of American experiment 

 stations up-to-date show the following facts regarding the 

 yield and composition of milk produced by pure-bred Jerseys 

 in the herds belonging to these institutions : 



On the average the fat constituted 34.5 per cent of the total 

 solids as compared with 28 per cent for the Holsteins. 



