JERSEY OR GUERNSEY?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 22 August 1928, Page 21

JERSEY OR GUERNSEY?

AN* INFORMATIVE LETTER. We are indebted co Mr. F. W. Hardy, of Christchurch, for an interesting letter on the subject of the rival merits of the Jersey and Guernsey breeds of dairy cattle. Mr. Hardy writes as follows to the Editor: — "Having had considerable experience of both Jerseys and Guernseys in England, I have read with interest the opinions expressed in this month's "New Zealand Farmer.' The Guernsey may be a large cow, but she is certainly not a deeper one, nor can she compare with the Jersey r for production. The Jersey world's milk record for 365 days held by the Englishbred cow Postmistress, starting the test when five years old, is 21031.751b of milk and 913.281b butterfat. Her highest milk yield for 24 hours was 811b, and she gave 40.51b on the last day of the test. "The world'# Jersey butterfat record, held by the Australian cow Wagga Gladys, starting the test as six years old, is 1149.3851b butterfat in 365 days from 20,8351b of milk; the fat yield on the last test day was 3.3631b from 541b of milk. The sire of the butterfat champion was a show bull imported from England, and her dam waa also by a bull imported from England, so evidently the Old Country has a few good producing Jerseys. These two world's records were made on twice-a-day milking, and both cows have averaged over 1500 gallons of milk for four years. Can any Guernsey records equal this? "The Jersey wins nearly all the butter test prizes in England, competing against all breeds, and if there is a prize for the best quality butter the Jersey invariably gets it. The prizes for butter at the London Dairy and other shows nearly always go to the Jersey breeders. The Guernsey butter may be a deeper colour, btit as a general rule it is softer and of a more greasy texture. "With regard to the price made for Guernseys and Jerseys at Reading, it depends on the quality of the animal sold rather than the breed. Jersey cows have sold by auction in England up to 875 guineas, and a herd has averaged nearly 200 guineas. My experience of the two breeds is that the Jersey is, if anything, of a stronger constitution than the Guernsey, quite her equal in milk production, and her superior for quantity and quality of butter. Butterfat being the first consideration of the dairy farmer in this country, the Guernsey has nothing to offer that would be of greater advantage to the country than what the Jersey can give. Jersey bulls are so numerous that plenty of good ones can be had for moderate figures.

"If the Guernsey were introduced ■with the same care in tne selection as was the Jersey, the undertaking would necessarily be an expensive one, and the supply of bulls available for dairy farmers would be limited, and to simply send to Guernsey for so many heifers and a bull would be asking for failure at the start, as nothing but the best could hope to succeed now that the Jersey is so firmly established."