FIRST CENTURY OF DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Mr. James Long, who ought to know, but who writes through 

 English glasses, writing on the Guernsey, says : " Like the Jensey, 

 we have sufficient evidence to show that the Guernsey cattle have 

 not only immensely improved during the past few years, hut that they 

 are amongst the most prolific a.nd economical in use for dairy pur- 

 poses." 



At the same time, these descriptions do not entirely represent the 

 actual capacity of the breed. The collection of Guernseys at the 

 Chicago World's Fair good as it was was not what it might have 

 been; and the same remark applies to many of the collections which 

 : re seen at English shows, few of which are seldom seen in public. 

 As a matter of fact, the show Guernsey, like the show Jersey, is not 

 always the best milking animal. At Chicago the twenty-five selected 

 cows were not the best America could produce, inasmuch ,as their 

 owners had refused to part with their choicest cattle; but they were 

 fairly representative of good animals of the breed. The Guernsey is 

 an animal of a bulkier, and, shall we say, of a more massive type than 

 the Jersey. Her color is orange or orange and white In weight 

 she averages about looolb. To be exact, however, would 

 require very nice degree of calculation. The arverage yield of milk 

 of the Guernsey has been placed at 550 gallons, with a percentage of 

 about 4.50 ; the quantity and quality of the milk, however, varies, and 

 a strict average can only be placed after covering a latrge number of 

 tekts. 



The points for and against the Guernsey are practically the same 

 as those we have enume'rated in connection with the Jersey. The 

 milk, cream, butter, and cheese are all exceptionally rich, while the 

 color is high. The cow is extremely docile ,and presents & very 

 handsome appearance, although we may be pardoned for saying that 

 she does not equal the more fawn-like animal, either in form or 

 color. Like the Jersey, too, the Guernsey cow is not easily tat- 

 tened, nor are the calves so saleable, unless taken in hand and al- 

 lowed *all the milk they will consume, until they are ready for the 

 butcher. The Guernsey has a white nose and tongue, light-coloured 

 horns, a heavier front than the Jersey, a soft skin, somewhat greater 

 \\idth across the loins, well-sprung ribs, and depth of both carcase 

 and hind-quarter. 



Guernsey cattle were imported into New South Wales from time 

 to time, under different names, such as the St. Hellier breed, and the 

 Hampshire breed. It has over and over again been hinted that 

 Mr. William Howe, of Glenlee, who is generally recognised to be the 

 first to establish dairying on a practical basis in Australia, some time 

 about 1820, used Guernsey bulls in his herd, which is probably true; 

 buhj we have undeniable evidence that Mr. Howe purchased both 

 Durham and Devon bulls, at the time his herd was most celebrated 

 for its dairy quality Mr. Michael 1 limlmarsh, of Gerringong (llla- 

 warra) bought two dairy-bred bulls from Mr. Howe, of Glenlee, one 

 in the beginning of the forties, and the other a few years later. They 

 were ill-shapen animals, mostly white, with large, yellow spots on the 

 body, and yellow cheeks. Neither of these bulls gave much satisfac- 

 tion. It is just possible, however, that neither of the,se bulls were pure 

 bred, or representative of Mr. Howe's best stock, as the difficulties 

 of inspection before purchase, were- numerous in tlne days, and the 

 bi'.yer bid to accept whatever was sent along. It is difficult to say 

 whether Mr. Edward Larkin who lived near .\ppin. ai>l who pos- 

 sessed go< d Alderney cattle supposed by some people to be Guern- 

 seys did not have a mixture of Devon blood in his strain 

 ofl cattle, as the fn e Mr. I arkin was breejding dairy cattle in this 

 colony, the Devon-Alderney cow was being much admired in parts of 

 England for the dairy. According, however, to the best authorities, 

 who wrote in those days, they all describe Mr. Edward Earkin's cattle 

 as Alderneys, which, ro doubt, they were. 



