THE JERSEY IN ITS HOME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 772, 22 March 1910, Page 5

THE JERSEY IN ITS HOME.

TAKES SECOND PLACE. The methods of feeding breeding animals in Jersey is the subject of an interesting report issued by the United States Department of Agrioulture. It is curious to learn that on this 'island live stock interests are of but secondary importance. With land for agricultural purposes at from £& to .£l4 per acre, the people have been compelled to ado'pt a very intensified system of farming. The farms are small, and the most important crop is early potatoes, which are grown for export. •• AVere it not for the fact that animals are needed to aid in the fertilisation of the soil, and that they are very largely maintained on roots and soiling crops which are grown on the land after the potatoes are harvested, it is more than likely that no live stock, except those needed for labour, would be maintained. Beef animals are not produced at all. The Jersey cattle predominate almost .to the exclusion of all others, yet they are not kept.in sufficient numbers to supply, the demands of the people for milk and butter. ' Formerly, it was the prevailing custom to have the cows calve in the spring of the year,, but now they calve at all periods. So far as breeding stock is concerned, groat care is exercised to avoid the over-feeding of young, animals. The amount of concentrated food given them is very limited, and much dependence is put on roughage (hay and straw) in winter, while grass constitutes the entire summer ration.