DAIRYING IN PORTO RICO. 5 
Eecognized breeds of domestic cattle may be placed in one of two 
general classes : Animals that are bred primarily for beef production 
and those that are bred for their milking qualities. Determination 
of which class will prove the most profitable in a given country 
depends upon the demand for products, availability of labor, and 
the cost of feed. In case of cattle intended for slaughter the prime 
consideration is for the amount of beef that they will dress. For 
this purpose there is sought a type of animal that will mature quickly 
and lay on the greatest amount of flesh with the least amount of 
feed. The beef type is block-shaped. Dairy cattle are sought for 
milk production. The dairy type of animal is wedge-shaped ; that is, 
having large hind quarters and thin fore quarters. 
One of Porto Rico's greatest needs at the present time is the devel- 
opment of dairying to supply milk for local purposes and for making 
butter and cheese for home consumption. This need is emphasized 
by the fact that the profits from raising cattle for dairy purposes are 
larger than are obtained from any other branch of animal pro- 
duction. 
SOME CATTLE BREEDS IN PORTO RICO. 
The cattle introduced into Porto Rico are, almost without excep- 
tion, dairy breeds, Holstein-Friesians being in the lead, with Guern- 
seys, Jerseys, and Ayrshires following. 
JERSEYS. 
Thirteen miles off the coast of France, and within 50 miles of the 
southwestern extremity of Great Britain, lie the Channel Islands, the 
largest of which is known as Jersey. It is 6 by 11 miles in extent. 
This island is the home of the Jersey breed of cattle, which is one of 
the most widely distributed of the dairy breeds. The Jerseys have 
been purely bred since 1779, when a law was passed and since strictly 
enforced prohibiting the introduction of live cattle into the island. 
Through a succession of years the cattle have been judiciously selected 
until there has developed a race of inherent constitutional vigor and 
high productive capacity. 
Conditions in Jersey are similar to those obtaining in Porto Rico, 
food crops constituting the principal production, and the cattle 
being used largely to consume the fodder and surplus waste products. 
The animals are tethered in the fields, where they are advanced 
daily so that they may gradually graze the whole field. Cows are 
household pets in Jersey and are very carefully tended. 
Jersey cattle are the smallest in average size of the well-known 
dairy breeds. The mature cows weigh from 700 to 1,000 pounds 
each. The breed is variable in color, ranging from fawn to gray 
and mouse, though generally solid colored. White patches occa- 
