CHANNEL ISLANDS CATTLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23322, 4 October 1945, Page 3

CHANNEL ISLANDS CATTLE

Fate Of Famous Breeds No Deterioration Of Stock Liberation of the Channel Islands, the oldest possessions of the British Crown and the only portions of English soil to be occupied by the Germans, has caused farmers all over the world to wonder what has been the fate of the famous breeds of cattle with which the islands have always been associated. It will be a relief to all who have the Interests' of pure-bred stock at heart to know that the Jersey and Guernsey breeds survived the five years’ ordeal safely and came through without contamination of blood or deterioration of stock. This was due entirely to the constant and scrupulous care given to their herd by each farmer, as well as to the strict control exercised by the local agricultural authorities in both islands. The invading Germans as a body took no interest in the preservation of the respective types of cattle. This was surprising, as in all other ways they interfered directly with the farming industry as they did in everything else. For instance, periodical visits were paid to the Islands by German agricultural experts, who dictated to the farmers what they should grow and when the crops should be sown, ostensibly to ensure greater production from the limited acreage. Cropping plans from every farmer and glasshouse grower were insisted upon and ruthlessly altered when the Germans thought it advisable, the announced intention being to show the "locals” how to produce increased yields from their tiny holdings. The farmer, however, had little faith at all times in theoretical dictation, and. especially when it was of enemy origin. Therefore he filled in his forms not alwaj% correctly, restrained himself with difficulty from telling the Germans what he thought of them, and carried on in his own sweet way. which he knew was the only successful method of achieving the desired ends. In spite of the fact that the Germans imported cattle from France. Spain, and other parts of Europe, transferred animals from one island to another, and, in every way. transgressed all the laws and regulations which had been imposed during the last two centuries to safeguard the purity of the individual breeds, the letter came through unaffected. Cargoes of cattle destined for slaughter as food for the troops in occupation were brought to the islands, and those animals not required immediately were handed to the local authorities for grazing. Then it was that the farmer was expected to show his loyalty to his own island by keeping such beasts as were thrust upon his charge in isolation, and to take every precaution that they did not come into association with his own stock in any way. This duty was carried out loyally and. as a result, the breeds are as pure as and distinct as they were before the war. Breeding Control The Aldeney type, which was a derivation of the Guernsey, was absorbed into the latter when, at the time of the evacuation of the smaller Island prior to the advent of the Germans, the whole of the population departed to England. More than 400 animals, including 224 cows, were then shipped to Guernsey and distributed among the farmers there. Strict control over breeding and the keeping of young stock was exercised by the Agricultural Societies of eacn island. On Guernsey, during the first four years of the occupation. 450 heifer and bull calves were allowed to be retained each year to safeguard the future of the breed. After November, 1944, however, when the Allied blockade of the Channel rendered the food shortage on the islands acute, this number was drastically reduced, and exemptions were granted only to a few bull calves from outstanding dams. Every other calf was slaughtered for food. Toward the end of the occupation the Germans began to commandeer local cattle for food, but, from the time of their arrival they had consistently deprived the inhabitants of milk, which was required for the troops. On Guernsey, for five years, only separated milk was available for the civilian population, together with a weekly butter ration of four ounces a head. Jersey residents received whole milk to drink, but their butter allowance was only two ounces a week each. Children of school age and under on both islands received a pint of full-cream milk a day throughout the occupation. In the matter of health, too, the islands have been lucky. In spite of the presence of many thousands of imported foreign labourers recruited by the Germans from the slums of Europe, no epidemics were experienced, either human or bovine. Nor were there any instances of foot-and-mouth disease, Colorado beetle, or other visitations reported among herds or crops, a fact which is due to Providence rather than to any precautions taken by the Germans. But, although the local breeds have come through their long ordeal unscathed, the islands themselves have suffered badly. Many hundreds of acres of their limited pasture-land have been lost for ever under permanent coverings of the reinforced concrete used for building gun-emplace-ments and similar fortifications and erections, and tunnels and dug-outs undermine many more. This does not worry the island farmer. however. His precious breed is safe and nothing else matters. Soon his herds will allow of shipment abroad again, and then he will be able to regulate the birth-rate to the demand and to his limited pasturage. He is content to know that the reign of the Hun is over.