THE JERSEY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 18 (Supplement)

THE JERSEY

BREED PROTECTED BY QUEEN ANNE. The Jersey cow is tractable and easy to milk. She gives a good yield of rich milk for a long period and over a good number of years, frequently milking well up to twelve and even 18 years of age. She is economical to feed because of her small size and takes up less room in the ?owshed. five Jerseys occupying the space of four cows of thp larger breeds. The native Jersey is absolutely and without any doubt free from tuberculosis, and in this connection it may be pointed out that the majority of Jer.seys which arc being offered at public auctions have passed the double intradermal test for tuberculosis. Another point, had the Jersey been the delicate animal which she was once said to bn the breed would have long since died out, as. because of the size of the island and the fact that no outride blood has been introduced for such a long period there has been an unavoidable amount of inter-relation-ship. Fur more than 200 years Jerseys have been bred pure on the island which gives the breed its name. Since the reign of Queen Anne, close attention has been paid to the mating of rows in order to concentrate those, qualities of rich milk, length of lactation period, and persistence in milking which are peculiarly those of the Jersey, and for almost that length of time the States of Jersey have prohibited

the importation of cattle into the Island except for immediate slaughter. Old prejudices against the Jersey have taken a lot of breaking down. Several factors have contributed to this, the chief being, perhaps, the increased demand for better quality milk and the development of the sale of milk in bottles, and thus showing quality by the cream line. The attractive price at which good pedigree Jerseys have been available has been a second contributory factor; and. thirdly, the better knowledge of the cow herself, which has been spread through closer acquaintance and wider distribution. It has been brought home to the farmer that, given a reasonable amount of that care, which is the due of any high producer in ti e dairy. Jerseys can more than hold their own with all other dairy breeds. It is difficult to understand why there should have arisen any doubts a? to her suitability as a commercial dairy proposition, for the Jersey has all the points which go to make the ideal dairy cow.