Channel Islands Cattle.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2558, 1 December 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

Channel Islands Cattle.

It has long been admitted on all hands thiit what aro known in the colonies as Jersey, or, properly speaking, Alderney and Guernsey cows, are par excellence the best for dairy purposes. We, therefore, do not think that any apology is needed for placing before our readers the following short pamphlet, written by Mr Kdward Parsons Fowler, of Jersey and Southampton, who is not only the largest breeder and exporter, but also the best authority extant on Channel Islands cattle. The pamphlet is divided into seven short chapters, which we give in extenso. ; CHAPTER I. " The general preference which has been shown of late years for the Alderney and Guernsey cow, as producing a higher quality of milk for dairy purposes than any other species, has induced the author, as well from his own conviction of its necessity as from the suggestions of friends and customers, who have felt the want of such a treatise, to place the following epitome of his knowledge and experience before the publio :—Until very recently an impression has much prevailed that the cow of the Channel Islands was unfitted, by its apparent delicate appearance and blood-like breeding, for the use of such persons as were unable to bestow on them the most assiduous attention and care • but experience, and a more intimate acquaintance with the animal, has shown that this impression is entirely without foundation, and we see now constantly the Alderney cow thriv- ' ing uuder circumstances that would I be fitting for any other cow kept tor the same purpose, viz., milking and breeding. The Channel Island's cow will be found invaluable for private family use from its docility, easy pasturage and small consumption, in comparison with the peculiar richness of its milk The average of a dairy of forty cows under such management as is hereafter set forth, having been ten pounds of butter for each cow per week, whereas in other dairies not more than from six to seven pounds is producible from the ! ordinary miloh cow, where alone a quantity of milk has been desired, which is not the main object in a private family. Wo have therefore in the animal under consideration, the triple advan. tage, as before stated, of a symmetry of form, winch renders it an ornament to the gentleman's lawn or paddock,-a doc.nty wncl, makes it quiet under the tether, und in the hands of the milker, wLbther male or a richness of production, which not ouly fi}h the with butter, but; that of a firmness which it retains in the heat of the summer, aad a richness through the. c.o.hj I

ot winter, when the butter of the ordinary cow is barely marketable. The prejudice against the Alderney which has existed among dairy farmers, whose object is only profit, by whatever legitimate means obtainable, is also now fast wearnig away, there being scarcely one such in the Midland Comries, who does not have a certain proportion of these cattle among his stock; experience having proved that the introduction of the Alderucy or Guernsey (especially the latter), in the-proportion of one to six other cows, has so improved the character of the dairy, that from one penny to twopence pur pound in advance is obtained in any market, besides the preside which tho best commodity will always command. The pre-eminent utility of the Aldoruey cow as n cross in breeding with tho long horn, is universally allowed wl.ero t| lu dairy is tho ob]<?ct. _ l< or this purposo tho Alderney is superior to the Guernsey, although the milk of the Guernsey is preferably to the Alderney for mixing in the dairy Tho reasons which indicate the cross above mentioned nrc, on Iho part of the lon/r----horn, its largo quantity of milk, strength ot constitution, longevity, and indisposition to fatten in lt breeding state—and, on the part of the Alderney, its rich quality of milk, fine breeding, and kind quiet disposition. The cow needed r r tho dairy eannot under any circumsta:; ■ be 3elected for those qualities which w , 1 produce fat ; the two natures are incom-patible-to have tho best meat, we must get rid of every toudenoy to milk—and to havo the best buttor, we must obviate every disposition to fatten. Wo cannot have both qualities in the same animal, aud tho attempt will only end in disappointment. T| lO rosu i t9 , then, of the above remarks are those-that in the first place tho Alderuey cow is, above all others, especially the cow for the gentlemans lawn and paddock, and for the dairy farmer the only moans he has of recovering that peculiar and important animal so long lost sight of, which places breed beyond bulk, and was comtemplated m the old adago that says : — "Tlie cow to breed Tho ojt to feed." (To be continued.)