CATTLE, TILE KERRT. 
107 
cattle of the Highlands and Wales. They are generally very good 
milkers, and many of them are excellent. 
i he cow of Kerry is truly a poor man’s cow, living everywhere hardy, 
yielding (for her size) an abundance of milk and fattening rapidly. 
Jhese cattle usually are small, and are confined to tho hilly and moor 
grounds. Some arc of considerably size, elsewhere, and are improved 
ip form as well as weight. The 'horns, usually of middle length, turn 
up, as do the horns of those on tho mountains ; they arc shorter in the 
leg, shorter in tho body ; their loins and haunches aro heavy and wide j 1 
although the hair is thick, tho hide is mellow, and they thrive with rapidity. 
This is as they were known many years ago. They have since been bred 
with care. Tho Loudon Slock Journal of a late date says of them now : 
“These characteristic points of the breed are unmistakably well marked. 
The size is small. The legs in most cases aro very short in proportion to 
tho size of the body. The head is somewhat small, though the muzzlo 
is long and clean. The lips are thin ; the expression of the countciianco 
is pleasing, and the eye is particularly clear and fairly prominent. A 
symptom which is most indicative of purity of breed is the “turn up” 
of tho horn, which is of medium length. Occasionally, however, tho 
horn will, after turning up, turn backwards. The nicety of tho horn 
and the manner in which it is set on adds immcnselj' to tho stylo. Tho 
neck is not massive at tho junction with the head, but it thickens gradu- 
ally, and affords reasonable covering to tho shoulders. Tho latter aro 
flat and thin. The dorsal vertebrae rise more than in other cattle, which 
sometimes gives the back an irregular appearance. The ribs spring well, 
especially the last of those approaching the hip ; this makes the body 
very compact. The loins aro of medium width, and the hip not promi- 
nent. The distance between the hip and the setting on of the tail is not 
considerable; tho latter hangs neatly, and is well concealed by tho 
adjoining bones. Ihc chest is full and deep, and the hind-quarters Ion 0- , 
but rather light. Tho favorite color is black, though black and white, 
brown, and red, are by no means uncommon. The coat is invariably 
fine and thick, and tho hide clastic and mellow, showing great capacity 
for the production of flesh and fat. 
“Sixteen quarts of milk per day may be regarded as the maximum 
quantity the best specimens of the breed will give, and twelve quarts may 
be regarded as a good average for the entire season. This is, of course, 
on good keep. The milk is rich in cream, and tho butter delicate in flavor, 
■upeiior in color, and, as in the case with the Jersey cows, one or two 
Kerries will give the milk of ten to fifteen other cows in the production 
©f butter. As an indication of tho richness of milk of the Kerry cow, 
•ight to nine quarts are said to produce a pound of butter.” 
