THE JERSEY 



331 



The prolificacy and vitality of the Jersey may be regarded as 

 very fair, and in those herds long continued under uniform man- 

 agement the cows of this breed reproduce with reasonable regu- 

 larity. Under average conditions the Jersey may be expected to 

 produce one calf a year, and while twins occasionally are dropped 

 they are the rare exception. The cows breed for many years, and 

 it is no uncommon thing to find animals twelve years or more of 

 age that have been steady producers. Figgis, the champion cow 

 at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was thirteen years old 

 and Marjoram 2d sixteen years old at the World's Columbian 

 Exposition. Lass's Jewel 

 1 1 321 1 up to eighteen 

 years of age had dropped 

 twelve calves and so also 

 had St. Lambert's Riotress 

 106220. Pogis Irene 2d 

 146435 at the age of fif- 

 teen years completed a 

 year's official record of 

 9177 pounds of milk and 

 was the mother of ten 

 calves. There are many 

 examples of aged Jersey 

 bulls, notable among 

 them Pedro, in service un- 

 til nearly twenty years old. 



The temperament and disposition of the Jersey may be viewed 

 from the sex standpoint in two ways : the cows are very mild 

 and gentle of disposition and are easily handled when given 

 kindly care. The bulls, however, tend to be nervous and irritable 

 and need to be handled with much care and discretion. Even on 

 the island, where the cows have the most friendly relationship 

 V7ith the caretakers, the bulls are nervous and are given very re- 

 stricted liberties. There are examples of males of the breed that 

 are quiet and tractable, but in general the bulls of none of our 

 other breeds of cattle are so nervous and require such careful 

 watching and restriction as does the Jersey. Age does not seem 

 to modify the disposit^n^xrf^ |he averse bull of the breed and 

 the wise Jersey cattleman will take no chances with his bull. 



Fig. 139. Pedro 3187 at eighteen years of age. 

 Grand-champion Jersey male at the World's 

 Columbian Exposition, 1893, and one of the 

 most noted of American-bred Jersey bulls ; long 

 at the head of the herd of Mr. T. S. Cooper, 

 Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. From photograph, 

 by courtesy of Mr. Cooper 



