The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-11-08
{ NUMBER g.
An IlIinoisan on the Island Of Jersey

during the past summer, and DUT-
chased thirteen head of cattle. arriy-
ing home in twenty days from the
date of shipping them, although en-
countering much stormy weather dur
ing the passage. He gives the follow
ing account of what he saw on the is
land, as regards Jersey cattle.
Having been a breeder and admir-
er Of Jersey cattle for several years [
determined on visiting the Island of
Jersey and selecting herd, and [ full
ly made up my mind that l would lay
aside all fancy for solid colors and
black points. [ would first select a
cow for her butter qualities, but if She
had the fancy points [ would not OBJ
iect to them.
II spent three weeks on the island,
visiting every breeder of any note. I
had often read in our papers that
there was danger that the Jersey cow
would, under the color standard, de-
generate. This fear was we'll found
ed. I fully realized the truth of this.
for in Jersey the finest specimens of
butter COWS | saw were from twelve
to fifteen years old, and nine-tenthS of
them acre pGTtj- cOI0red. [ asked sew
eral breeders to tell me honestly if
they thought that in fifteen years
hence they would have as good COWS
as these, and they all answered No
In my opinion there are no better
judges of a butter cow than those peo-
pie. For years they have bred for
this and this only.
'"Ihe question now is, why so skill
full breeders as those people are allow
their cattle to degenerate? the secret
is this: Fancy points. An animal
possessing all OF those will sell for
more dollars, regardless of butter
qualities. The most difficult fancy for
me TO overcome was that for solid coll
or, for which, must say, | have a lit
tie weakness. l found they were
breeding from solid cOlOTed bulls, and
not giving the attention they should
to the butter qualities Of the dams of
these bulls. They seldom breed from
any but prize bulls, and they pay
great attention to symmetry and
form far more than we do. [ at
first thought it strange that NEST if
not all Of the bulls that [ saw were
solid color with black points. I learn
ed that there were but few bulls that
were parti-col0red left on the island,
as it was only those with fancy points
and solid color that escaped the butch
er.
AN agent informed me that he fire.
qUently received orders from English
gentlemen with q sample Of silk,
wanting q heifer of that shade with
all the black points. While I was
there an order came from America for
q heifer of a certain solid color with
all the black points; nothing being
said about butter points.
''In regard to GUenon's theory, I did
not see breeder or farmer but what
strictly believed in it, and would prac-
tice it when he wanted to Judge q
good cow. In looking over all those
old representative COWS I saw none
without well marked esCutcheOns.
This thing that we call fancy
points is getting to be a serious ques-
ton, and every breeder who wishes to
keep the Jersey cow up to the true
butter standard should be careful lest
he fall into this fashionable error.
cone more word in regard to it. [
was exhibiting Jersey cattle at the St.
Louis fair, One Of the judges was
looking in my cows mouth, [ thought
for her age; | gave it to him. He
said he wanted to see if she had @
black tongue. I said, My dear sir, do
you call that butter quality? THAT
is a money point two of the Judges
said. She had ninety-fiYe points as a
butter cow with the other three iudg-
es. She fell short on the fancy points
and took second prize. And this sama
cow had a record of fourteen pounds
Of butter in seven days. [ do not
wish to be understood as meaning that
it is necessary for Jersey COW, in or
der to be good one, to be parti-col-
ored or have q white tongue or switch,
but I do say there is too much atten-
ton given to the breeding for solid col
or and black points both in Jersey and
at home.
''The three weeks spent on the is
land among the farmers were very
and I shall remember them
as fair-dealing and hOspitable people.
[ left there July 30; sailed from
Southamton August 8, with thirteen
head of Jerseys, including the first
prize bull and the first and third prize
lelfers over all the island. After six
teen days of very stormy weather we
arrived at Boston. Had shipped to
New York, but owing to the rough
passage I thought it best to leave the
3hip. After tWenty-one days of travel
~ water and rail I arrived home.
without the loss of any, which was
lue to good care and personal atten-
ion.