The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-02
QUALITIES OF JERSEY CATTLE.
Prize Essay, by F. A. Dickens.

NNS -SNNA SNN@A IL AASAS@
practical dairymen than it is today us
popularity having been built up ana
strengthened by good results.
Originally from the Island OF jersey
in the British Channel, a locality fav-
ored as to soil and climate, the we'll
known milking tendencies of the breed
have long been carefully fostered and
developed by the thrifty and intelligent
Anglo French ~peasantry of that island.
The result of that judicious treatment
is the present Jersey COW, a typical
animal, unequalled in the particular
line for which she is so justly cele-
brated
The qualifications which these cattle
possess could not, of course, be long
ignored in this country, where for
many years pure bred animals of the
best type have been imported and duly
acclimatized. Good Jersey cattle of
first class families are much sought
after by breeders and stock fanciers,
and their profitable character has been
satisfactorily established.
The prepotency of the Jersey bulls is
we'll known to those who have used
them, and their color, markings, and
other characteristics may be traced
for many generations in their grade
offspring.
The Jersey COW is emphatically a
''butter cow" and in that respect is
superior to other dairy breeds. She is
not only prolific, but ]precocious. COM
ing early into service. The milk is *
c~eptionally rich and fne-favored.
Of a quiet and tractable disposition,
the Jersey COW is easy to handle and
safe to drive to trough or field, nc small
recommendation where women or chill
dren are concerned.
Those who are on the look out for
that mythical animal ycleped the ''gen-
ral-purpose COW" are likely to be dis
appointed in the Jersey. She is not
one of that sort, and does not pretend
to be. Ispeak Of the breed as l have
found it, after years of actual expert
ence withits members on my ownfarm,
and from observation of their perform
ances on those Of my neighbors. The
all purpose cow may suit persons hav-
ing no particular requirements but it
is a fallacy to suppose that general and
special excellencies can exist IN the
same animal at the same time.
AS a pretty, gentle and useful crea-
ture, the Jersey COW "a safely chal-
lenge the world in her own particular
sphere. For stock raiser8 on the break
<prairies, where beef production is the
main object and the weather vicissi-
tudes are sudden and severe, she is not
calculated to compete with the larger
and more rugged breeds represented by
Durhame, Herefords, Scotch black cat
tie and others; but for the patrons Of
creameries, for the general farmers
use, or for hotels and private families,
where gilt edge" butter is a prime
necessity, she reigns supreme.
All breeders of Jerseys are familiar
with the chief points of a typical Jer-
sey COW: a beautiful animal, whose
shapely head and neck, short, incurved
horns, large, mild and deer-like eyes,
black muzzie and corresponding mark
ings, deep body, fine limbs and tail and
welLdeveloped milk quarters render
her alike a graceful picture and an
acquisition on any farm.
Jersey cattle are the purest breed ex
tant, and have been bred for a purpose.
The COWS are good pail feeders, and
speedily become the pets of those who
care for them. They may be ap-
preached by women or children at any
time, may be tethered in fence corners
Or wherever the pasture is abundant,
or in places handy to the kitchen for
the feeding of scraps and other indul-
gencies, which greatly increase their
flow of milk, a plan largely adopted by
the peasants of Jersey, where such
COWS are universally well treated.
Every practical farmer or dairyman
is aware that great records can only
be the result Of good feed and skillful
handling. Breed, feed and good treat
ment, after careful selection, are the
three essentials which contribute in the
main to profit and satisfaction. The
best cow al be ruined by careIessness
or the want of a generous diet; and in
order to obtain the best results, the
above conditions must be strictly full
filled.
A milk and butter record of almost
phenomenal volume may be nosiced in
the case of the Jersey COW Signals Lily
FIagg. This valuable animal has just
beaten the splendid record previously
standing to the credit Of Bisson,s Bell.