A Jersey cow in the western United States.

A small, honey-brown breed of dairy cattle, the Jersey is renowned for the high butterfat content of its milk, as well as a genial disposition. Jersey cow in western United States. ... Jersey cow in western United States. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Butterfat or milkfat is the fatty portion of milk. ... Channel Island milk (sometimes called gold-top milk after the colour of the milk bottle top) is creamy, light-beige coloured milk originally from the Channel Islands. ...

Characteristics

The Jersey cow is quite small, ranging from only 800 to 1200 pounds (360 to 540 kg). The main factor contributing to the popularity of the breed has been their greater economy of production, due to: The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass (called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et...

• the ability to carry a larger number of effective milking cows per unit area due to lower body weight, hence lower maintenance requirements
• high butterfat content of their milk, which economises in energy requirements in food per pound of butterfat
• the ability to stand up to a wide range of climatic conditions, and to thrive on locally produced food.

(Rex Paterson in Jersey Cattle, ed. Boston, 1954, pp81-95)

Bulls are also small, ranging from 1200 to 1800 pounds (540 to 820 kg), and are notoriously aggressive.

Castrated males can be trained into fine oxen which, due to their small size and gentel nature make them popular with young teamsters. Jersey oxen are not as strong as larger breeds however and are generally out of favor among competitive teamsters.

Jersey cattle being judged at a show in Jersey, home of the breed

Due to the small size, curious docile character and attractive features of the Jersey cow, small herds were imported into England by aristocratic landowners as props for aesthetic landscapes. Download high resolution version (1496x718, 744 KB)Jersey cattle being judged at the West Show, St. ... Download high resolution version (1496x718, 744 KB)Jersey cattle being judged at the West Show, St. ... An Agricultural Show or Livestock show is a judged event or display in which breeding stock is showcased. ...

History of the breed

As its name implies, the Jersey was bred on the British Channel Island of Jersey. It apparently descended from cattle stock brought over from the nearby Norman mainland, and was first recorded as a separate breed around 1700. This article is about the British dependencies. ... Flag of Normandy Normandy (in French: Normandie, and in Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region in northern France. ...

Frank Falle has speculated^[1] (on the basis of DNA evidence) that the oldest settlers in Jersey were Danish vikings who had been to Nantes with Hatain, where it is recorded that tribute was given by the King of France to Hatain of 500 cattle to leave that area, whereupon they settled in the Normandy area. The marked resemblance between Jersey cattle and the Nantaise cow would seem to bear this out.[1] The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Traditional city flag City coat of arms Motto: Favet Neptunus eunti (Latin: Shall Neptune favour the traveller) Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country Region Pays de la Loire Department Loire-Atlantique (44) Mayor Jean-Marc Ayrault  (PS) (since 1989) City Statistics Land area¹ 65. ...

While the breed is isolated from outside influence today, this was not always the case. Before 1789 cows would be given as dowry for inter-island marriages between Jersey and Guernsey (Boston, 1954). This was, however, not widespread.

Since 1789, imports of foreign cattle into Jersey have been forbidden by law to maintain the purity of the breed, although exports of cattle and semen have been an important economic resource for the island. The restriction on the import of cattle was initially introduced in 1789 to prevent a collapse in the export price. The United Kingdom levied no import duty on cattle imported from Jersey. Cattle were being shipped from France to Jersey and then being shipped onward to England to circumvent the tariff on French cattle. The increase in the supply of cattle, sometimes of inferior quality, was bringing the price down and damaging the reputation of Jersey cattle. The import ban stabilised the price and enabled a more scientifically controlled programme of breeding to be undertaken. 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Sir John Le Couteur studied selective breeding and became a Fellow of the Royal Society - his work led to the establishment of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society in 1833. At that time, the breed displayed greater variation than it does today with white, dark brown and mulberry beasts. However, since the honey-brown cows sold best the breed was developed accordingly. In 1860 1,138 cows were exported via England, the average price being £16 per head. By 1910 over a thousand head were exported annually to the United States alone. It is now the fastest growing dairy breed in the world. The premises of The Royal Society in London (first four properties only). ... RJA&HS Crest The Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJA&HS) is an agricultural association in Jersey. ...

On 1866, at the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society, H.G. Shepard notes in his history that "it was resolved - on the motion of Col. Le Couteur, that the Hon. Secretary be hereby invited to open and to carry on a "herd book" in which the pedigree of bulls, cows and heifers shall be entered for reference to all the members of the Society.". In 1869 for the first time prizes were awarded at the Society's Shows for Herd Book Stock Cattle.

The States of Jersey took a census of stock in 1866, and Jersey then supported 12,037 head of cattle, of which 611 were bulls, and no fewer than 6,322 pigs and 517 sheep. This was before the motor age and 3,227 horses were kept, Saint Helier being responsible for 888. The States of Jersey (French: États de Jersey) is the parliament of Jersey. ... Saint Helier (Jèrriais: St Hélyi) is one of the twelve parishes and the largest town on Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. ...

In Popular Culture

• On his final recording titled "Like the 309," outlaw country star Johnny Cash sings, "Give a drink of wine/To my Jersey cow/I wouldn't give a hoot-and-nail/For my journey now."
• Brown Bessie, the famous champion butter cow of the Chicago World's Fair dairy test, averaged over 40 pounds (18 kg) of milk a day for five months, and made 3 pounds (1.3 kg) of butter a day several times. [2][3]
• Elsie the Cow, the famous mascot of Borden Milk Products. Her face appears on cans of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk, cheeses, fresh and shelf stable milk.
• Hurionia Centurion Veronica 20J, the famous show cow. In 2003 she was sold for $85,000 at public auction. She is currently residing as the 2006 World Dairy Expo Supreme Champion. She has also been named the All-American Grand Champion Jersey. She has yet to be defeated in the showring.

American V: A Hundred Highways is a posthumous album by Johnny Cash released on July 4, 2006. ... It has been suggested that Johnny Cash family be merged into this article or section. ... One-third scale replica of Daniel Chester Frenchs Republic, which stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The Worlds Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds Fair, was held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher... Elsie the Cow is the advertising mascot of the Borden Company, now primarily used to promote the Dairy Farmers of America cooperatives Borden cheese products. ... Borden Milk Products LP was founded in 1857 by Gail Borden and is now owned by Dallas-based Milk Products LP. MPLP is privately held and located near National Dairy Products LP. Most of Bordens products are sold in the United States, but the condensed milk is also found...

Reference

1. ^ http://www.thisisjersey.com/code/showarticle.pl?ArticleID=000248

• Balleine's History of Jersey, Marguerite Syvret and Joan Stevens (1998) ISBN 1-86077-065-7
• One Hundred Years of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society 1833-1933. Compiled from the Society's Records, by H.G. Shepard, Secretary
• Jersey Cattle, Eric James Boston. 1954.
• Butterfat in Relation to the Jersey Breed, Boston, E.J. and H.L. Webb, WJCB, 1954.
• A Short History on the Origins of Jersey Cattle., Boston Eric, WJCB 1965

External links

• Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society
• American Jersey Cattle Association
• Australian Jersey Breeders Society
• Jersey Canada
• Extract from One Hundred Years of the Royal Jersey Agricultural Society by H.G. Shepard
• Article on This is Jersey (Jersey Evening Post) mentioning Frank Falle's investigations.
• Minutes of History section, Societe Jersiaise on Viking Connection
• Bibliography - Jersey Cattle - Worldwide
• Jersey herd at Schoongezicht, Stellenbosch.