80 THE JERSEY 



neys, but their blood was not kept pure. They furnished the 

 foundation stock, however, for much of the region in the 

 southern states. In 1851 a few Jerseys were imported into 

 ilassachusetts and in 1868 a few animals were brought to Mon- 

 treal, Canada. From these importations have descended many 

 of the most famous producers in this country. From about 1870 

 to 1890 importations were numerous, then for a period few 

 were brought over. At the present time there are several impor- 

 tant annual importations. The interests of the breed in America 

 are looked after by the American Jersey Cattle Club. It was 

 formed in 1868. There have now been registered in America 

 about 300,000 Jerseys, of which one-quarter were bulls. Jerseys 

 are now to be found in every state (Fig. 30) and in practically 

 every county of most of the states. The Jersey has also been 

 introduced into most of the civilized countries, but is most 

 popular in England and America. 



Island Versus American Type. — It was comparatively early 

 in the improvement of the Jersey breed that representatives were 

 first imported to America. These were for the most part handled 

 by practical lovers of the breed. Descendants from these early 

 importations have been formed into a more or less well-defined 

 type usually spoken of as the "American, type," because developed 

 in this country. These cows are comparatively large, straight, 

 almost coarse, and decidedly plain, compared with the present 

 highly finished animal of the island. The majority of the high 

 records for production in this country are held by representatives 

 of the so-called American type. The island type of Jersey is 

 100 to 200 pounds lighter in weight ; very much more refined in 

 texture and feature, and is now marked by having a compara- 

 tively short head with dished face. These animals are more 

 symmetrical than those of older American breeding, not only in 

 top line, but also in udder development. While many of the 

 large records are held by the American type it does not in itself 

 prove that this type is essentially more productive or econom- 

 ical. Animals of recent importation have gone more largely 

 into the herds of wealthy ovimers who in the past were not pri- 

 marily interested in large milk records or economy of milk pro- 



