262 CATTLE 



cow Imported Blue Belle 180234, in May, 1904, sold at the 

 Cooper sale at fourteen years of age at $3600 to Gedney Farm. 

 At the 1905 sale of Cooper & Sons 103 head of imported 

 Jerseys brought ^63,120, an average of ;^62i.55 each, the 

 highest record in a score of years. These represent the highest 

 Jersey prices, though many range above ;^iooo. 



Early maturity of the Jersey is more marked than with any 

 other common breed of cattle. Repeated cases are on record of 

 Jersey females, through accident, having the first calf before 

 365 days old. Both males and females develop rapidly and are 

 often in service too early for the good of the herd or breed. 

 Occasionally one will find a herd of Jerseys, where the owner 

 has bred the heifers to come fresh at eighteen to twenty months 

 old. In these herds one is impressed by the small size and 

 runty appearance of the cows. The wiser and more thoughtful 

 breeders of to-day plan to have their heifers come fresh about 

 thirty months old, depending somewhat upon the vigor and size 

 of the animals to be bred. A greater vitality and producing 

 capacity is thus secured. 



The ability of Jerseys to reproduce ranks high, as is the case 

 with all dairy breeds. Many males have lived to a ripe old age 

 and been in constant herd service. The bull Pedro was in active 

 service until nearly twenty years old, St. Lambert Boy was used 

 until he was fourteen, and King of St. Lambert's King at fifteen 

 is yet in active service, while numerous other similar instances 

 could be cited. There are also many vigorous old cows of the 

 breed, and these may be frequently seen in Jersey herds. Fig- 

 gis, the champion cow at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 

 was thirteen years of age, and Marjoram 2d, at sixteen years of 

 age, was sixth in the aged cow class at the World's Columbian 

 Exposition. Merry Maiden, Brown Bessie, and Miss Helen 

 Brice, all famous cows, lived long, useful lives. Many Jersey 

 cows are in their greatest usefulness at ten to twelve years old. 



The distribution of the Jersey is world-wide. Prominent herds 

 are found in various parts of England, France, Canada, all over 

 the United States, in Australia, and elsewhere. The breed seems 

 adaptable to a wide range of conditions, and famous herds have 

 been developed in Canada and the New England states, where 



