The breed was known in England as early as
1771 and was regarded very favorably because of its milk and butterfat
production.
At that early date, the cattle of Jersey
island were commonly referred to as Alderney cattle although the
cattle of this island were later referred to only as Jerseys. Jersey
cattle were brought to the United States in the 1850's.
Adaptable to a wide range of climatic and
geographical conditions, outstanding Jersey herds are found from
Denmark to Australia and New Zealand, from Canada to South America,
and from South Africa to Japan.
They are excellent grazers and perform well
in intensive grazing programs. They are more tolerant of heat than
the larger breeds. With an average weight of 900 pounds, the Jersey
produces more pounds of milk per pound of body weight than any other
breed.
Most Jerseys produce far in excess of 13
times their bodyweight in milk each lactation.
The modern Jersey breed is unexcelled in
dairy type. Breeders in the United States commonly referred to two
distinct types of Jerseys in the past, these being the Island and
the American; this distinction is not commonly made at present.
It should be recalled that this is a different
usage of the word "type" than is usually implied and refers to the
general size and quality of the animal rather than to its use for
dairy purposes. The Island-type Jerseys excelled in refinement and
those qualities that were deemed necessary to win in the show ring.
Refinement and beauty of such cattle in mature
form led to the marked superiority of cattle imported from the island
of Jersey or their direct descendants in winning most of the major
awards of the American show ring.
The so-called American-type Jerseys were
noted much more for production than for beauty. Cattle referred
to by this description are usually larger, a bit coarser, and have
been bred for years for those qualities that suit them for milk
and butterfat production.
Some have referred to them as the "Farmer's"
Jersey. Usually after two or three generations in the United States
in the hands of the ordinary feeder, the refinement of the Island
cattle gives way to the larger and less refined American kind.
In recent years there has been less concern
about these type variations; no doubt the program of type classification
has tended to reduce the extremes.
Additional emphasis on milk production and
less stress on butterfat production had, no doubt, resulted in general
acceptance of Jersey cows with more size and scale.
Recent importations of Jerseys have consisted
of larger cattle than many previously brought to the United States.
Their offspring have not only been acceptable in type but have also
been used advantageously in improving production.
Cows show very marked refinement about their
heads and shoulders, carry long, straight top lines, and usually
carry out long and level at the rump. For their size, they are usually
deep in the body and full and deep in the barrel.
There is no more appealing dairy animal than
the well-balanced Jersey cow, and although usually somewhat more
nervous in disposition than the other dairy cows, she is usually
docile and rather easy to manage.
Jersey cows usually have an extreme weight
range of between 800 and 1200 pounds, but medium-sized cows are
usually preferred.
Jersey bulls, while small as compared to
the other dairy breeds, are extremely masculine. They are quite
muscular about their crests and shoulders and are considerably less
refined throughout than are the females.
The same general qualities of straight lines
and diary conformation as are found in the cows are desired in bulls.
They usually range in weight from 1200 to 1800 pounds, but as in
the females, medium weights are usually preferred.
Jersey bulls are known for having the least
docile temperament of the common breeds of cattle. It is folly to
trust any dairy bull and particularly Jerseys past eighteen months
of age.
Modern Jerseys may be of a wide range in
color. There is little preference today between the solid and broken
colors although most breeders slightly prefer the cattle with an
unbroken color pattern.
Most prefer the dark tongue and switch, but
this is more a matter of an identification point than a point of
discrimination. The color in Jerseys may vary from a very light
gray or mouse color to a very dark fawn or a shade that is almost
black.
Both the bulls and females are commonly
darker about the hips and about the head and shoulders than on the
body.
Most breeders slightly prefer the medium
shades of color to the extremes, but nearly all of them realize
that type and producing ability are far more important than the
shade of color or whether the color is solid or broken.
References:
The American Jersey Cattle Association,
6486 East Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362 Phone: (614) 861-3636
FAX: (614) 836-8040 Internet: usjersey@iwaynet.net
Briggs, Hilton M and D.M. Briggs. 1980.
Modern Breeds of Livestock. Forth Edition, MacMillan Company
Photographs:
The American Jersey Cattle Association
Hoards
Dairyman, Fort Atkinson, WI
Copyright © 1997, 2002. Oklahoma State University Board of
Regents. All rights reserved.
