DAIRY CATTLE 



429 



the West Highland breed in beef cat- 

 tle. It is a comparatively small animal 

 of great endurance and capable of main- 

 taining itself under conditions of unu- 

 sual hardship and neglect. 



In the following notes on these dif- 

 ferent breeds, an attempt is made to 

 state the relative advantages and dis- 

 advantages of each breed without preju- 

 dice against or favor toward any par- 

 ticular breed. The champions of each 

 breed are prone to maintain that their 

 particular breed is better in most re- 

 spects than any other breed, and of 

 course not all of these claims can be 



1S40, but large importations did not take 

 place until after 1850. 



Jerseys are the smallest in size of all 

 the noted dairy breeds, the cows ranging 

 in weight from 700 to 1,000 pounds, and 

 the bulls from 1,200 to 1,800 pounds. A 

 deliberate attempt has been made to in- 

 crease the size of the Jerseys, so that in 

 the United States they are somewhat 

 larger than in their native island. The 

 color of Jerseys varies extremely, show- 

 ing all shades of brown, even to black, 

 and various shades of yellow, fawn, tan 

 and cream ; mouse color, light red and 

 brindle are also observed. The head of 



Fig. 276 CHAMPION YEARLING JERSEY BULL AT PAX AMERICAN" EXPOSITIOX 



true at the same time and under the 

 same conditions. For different purposes 

 a different :election of breeds should be 

 made. Thus, in point of milk yield, 

 the Flolsteins probably stand at the head, 

 while in point of milk fat the Jerseys 

 and Guernseys are perhaps superior, and 

 stand about on a par. 



Jerseys — I n point of numbers, the 

 Jerseys are considerably in the lead bf 

 other dairy breeds in the United States. 

 This breed originated in the Island of 

 Jersey and has gradually spread 

 throughout the dairy regions of Europe 

 and America. A small number of Jer- 

 seys, then known as Alderneys. were 

 introduced into the United States before 



the Jersey is small and usually dished, 

 and the muzzle, including the under lip, 

 shows a black or dark lead color. This 

 at once distinguishes the Jersey from 

 the Guernsey, which has a tendency to 

 show a buff color about the head. 



Many breeders prefer solid colors in 

 Jerseys. The majority of ihis breed 

 are variously marked. The udder is of 

 good size and ordinarily hangs lower 

 than in Ayrshires, while the milk veins 

 are well developed. Jerseys are likely 

 to be irregular and angular in outline, 

 rather quick and graceful in movement 

 and deer-like in appearance. They are 

 nervous and excitable, but when care- 

 fully treated, are docile and easily man- 



