Jersey Cattle and their Management. 239 
the bowels loose. Many years ago the cows were kept exceed- 
ingly thin and low ; indeed, so weakly did they become, that it 
was necessary sometimes to help the older cows to rise. After 
the introdu(;tion of roots, a better system of farming took place, 
under the auspices of the Agricultural Society ; the cows were 
better fed, and, to the surprise of the Islanders, some of them 
fell with milk-fever. Now, roots are seldom, if ever, given 
before calving ; the cow is kept moderately ; it is a rare thing 
to hear of one dropping. Immediately after calving bran and 
warm water are given ; the old system of " toast and cider," warm 
and often with a little powdered ginger in it, is still practised, 
especially if the cow is a little queer or has had a hard time. 
Bran-mashes or barley-meal, with plenty of lukewarm water, is 
given for a few days ; by some breeders it is continued for a 
month, and the cow is milked three times daily for two or three 
months. Parsnips, mangolds, or swedes, hay or straw, and the 
customary food, according to the season, follow. From May till 
October the cows are tethered, and remain out at night. In 
very hot weather they are taken in or sheltered from the heat 
and flies during the middle of the day. In the autumn, when 
the grass becomes short, the leaves of parsnips and mangolds, 
and occasionally of cabbage, are given, and begin to help out the 
winter food. Every day the cows are allowed to go out for two 
or three hours' run, except in very stormy weather or winter. 
Gentleness, quietude, and warmth increase both the flow of 
milk and the yield of butter. Milking takes place generally 
between 5 and 6 in the morning in winter, when parsnips, 
carrots, or mangolds are given ; then hay and a few more 
roots, before they go out, about 10 or 11 o'clock. Hay is placed 
before them on their return about 4 o'clock, and roots again at 
milking time, with a bundle of straw at night. The quantity 
of milk given varies ; it is not so great as is the large yield of 
butter from it. Richness — or the deep orange colour of the ears, 
teats, and hide generally — is now looked upon as one of the 
highest points and the great aim in breeding. Although some 
cows will give upwards of 20 quarts a day, it is apt to be thin, 
and 8 to 12 quarts is a fair standard. This will yield usually 
7 to 10 lbs. of butter weekly, but 5 to 6 lbs. per week through- 
out the year is a good average from one cow. 
The bull is highly fed ; this is the rule — if kept in the house 
he is fed with hay, roots and meal, but if tethered in summer 
he lives as the cows. He is, however, always seen in good con- 
dition, and rarely kept over two years old, for keeping them well 
gives them, it is considered, a handsome appearance, and they 
are ready, and worth more to the butcher should they prove at 
all troublesome. 
