Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1875-12-23
STOCK RAISING G.
JERSEY CATTLE.

nestle animals, it is of the first Importance
to distinguish between the eXceilencies OF
the breed and those of the individual. A
distinct breed implies that certain pecnliari-
ties of form, size and superiority in the pro-
duction of milk, butter or beef are Inherent
in it, and are consequently sure to be devel-
oped in the offspring. The value of the III
diyidual animal is largely dependent on this
whether the excellence, of whatever kind
it may be, is accidental, traceable to neither
sire nor dam or whether it is derived from
an ancestry, all possessing certain eX-
ternal marks and productive qualities,
Inherent in them SO long that the
memory of man rumneth not to the con-
trary."
This point, we think, has an important
bearing on the subject before us, as with
the exception of the Devon, none of Our
present improved breeds of domestic ami
mails can lay so valid d claim to an original
and distinct breed as the jersey. There are
no records existing which show that the
present Jersey cow has been made what she
Is by crossing, such Us was practiced to make
up our present Ayrshire or Shorthorn. She
can be traced back for about a century, ex-
hibiting even then to some extent her pecu-
Liar faculty for secreting rich milk and 1t
would appear from the best authorities that
she was OF Norman descent, as COWS pos
sessing her general characteristics are still
seen in various parts of Normandy and Brit
tany. They differ widely, however, from
the present Jersey COW in more or less
coarseness in their structure, and especially
i'm the amount of milk of extraordinary rich
ness which belongs to her, par excellence,
at the present time. No one has even seen
or heard of a Jersey cow giving thin or wa
terry milk. 1t is foreign to both the individu-
al animal and the case. Admitting her to
be ofNorman descent, her present beautiful
form and other peculiarities have undoubt-
edly been more fully developed by the tenn
perate climate of the Channel Islands, and
the comparative isolation of the Inhabitants,
under d government which has enabled
them to provide their own laws and internal
regulations. Neither external wars nor in
ternal commissions have ever reached or dis
tllrbed the inhabitants Of this beautiful clus-
ter of islands. They seem to have
guarded jealousy by enactments, the purity
of their own against the Introduction of for
cign stock.
Col. lie Contour, a resident Of the islands
and entirely familiar with the subject, writes
thus An act of their local legislature, so
far back as 1850, prohibited the importation
into Jersey Of COW, heifer, calf or bull, UNI,
der penalty of 200 livres with the forfeiture
of boat and tackle, besides a fine of fifty
liyres to be imposed on every sailor on board
who did not inform Of the attempt at i'm
portation. Moreover, the animal was de-
creed to be Immediately slaughtered, and its
flesh given to the poor. Later laws are
equally stringent, no foreign cattle are ever
allowed to come to Jersey but as butchers
meat.
Tie Jersey farmer has always been well
satisfied that he had Il COW entirely suited to
his locality, and While there is evidence that
stock from Jersey has been sent to Scotland
aud by crossing with the Shorthorn.
has been the foundation of the present
Ayrshire COW, there is no evidence that for
eign blood from any country was ever i'm
ported into the Isle Of Observation-Disclosures
Helper.
HEREFORD CATTLE, +,
This fine beet-producing breel of cattle. {
tha HnrafanIF caam ~ No o,.,,;,a