306 CATTLE 



do not breed until six or seven years old, due to a scanty supply 

 of coarse food and slow growth, while in Massachusetts, under 

 more favorable conditions, they breed in three years. 



The Kerry in cross-breeding has attracted considerable atten- 

 tion. Shorthorn bulls have been extensively used on Kerries 

 in Ireland, to the material welfare of the country. James Mac- 

 donald, editor of the Farmers Gazette, Dublin, writing in the 

 Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society, says : 



A good many Kerries are brought in, and from these and Shorthorn bulls 

 stock of wonderful size and quality are bred. Indeed, I have seen steers at 

 Carton, crosses between small Kerry cows and Shorthorn bulls, which in shape 

 and size showed but little inferiority to highly graded Shorthorns. 



According to British authors Aberdeen Angus and Hereford 

 bulls on Kerry cows have also produced very excellent steers. 

 The Kerry male cannot be used to so good advantage in cross- 

 ing on the beef breeds. 



The distribution of the Kerry is not general. Even in Ire- 

 land, where it is commonly bred, the Shorthorn is the leading 

 breed. It has been taken up as a fad by the English nobility, 

 and small herds are found in various parts of England, kept 

 rather for fancy purposes. A few Kerries have been exported 

 to Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the United States. 

 A small herd is kept by Mr. G. M. Carnochan of New York 

 City, who imported and exhibited a bull and four females at 

 the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904. The 

 Honorable Whitelaw Reid of New York for some years has also 

 kept a small herd of Kerries. Years ago a few were taken to New 

 England. A few cattle of the breed are also kept in Illinois. 



A Kerry cattle organization has been in existence for several 

 years in Ireland. In 1887 a register was started by the owners 

 of the Farmers Gazette in Dublin, which soon after was turned 

 over to the Royal Dublin Society, which issued the first vol- 

 ume of the Kerry and Dexter Herdbook in 1890. In 1892 a 

 Kerry and Dexter-Kerry Cattle Society was formed, which 

 now attends to registration and herdbook publication. 



