Since the late 18th century, when it became illegal to import semen from other breeds to Jersey or for a beast that had left the island to return, the Jersey cow's pedigree has remained unsullied, a model of bovine racial purity. It seems that the Jersey is under threat from Brussels, and with the UK government apparently apathetic about the fate of the native cow of its largest dependency, Stevens intends to act. Recently, however, it emerged that an error in processing the order rendered it illegal and the granting of a further order unlikely, raising the prospect of imported semi-skimmed flooding into the island and selling at half the price of Jersey milk. She is a woman who clearly relishes a battle. We need around 4,000 cows on the island to keep the breed pure, and there are around 4,500 at the moment.
Farmers support the campaign.
One, Peter Lee, plans to march on St Helier, herd in tow, to rally public support. Le Claire can be relied upon to milk the occasion for all it is worth. It supports a population of just under 90,000, one third of whom live in the capital, St Helier, named after a Frankish missionary martyred there in 555. They were defeated in a short, bloody battle outside the Royal Court. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Jersey was rife with feuding, smuggling and privateering.