Menoturals; Cattle Crew

It's Final Friday time, shared with Nature Friday, hosted by our pals, the LLB Gang.

Today, I bring you the final breed of cattle from the Westmoreland Show archives. I have been keeping this one for FFF because I think it has that something a little bit extra special, that je ne sais quoi... It is not a rare breed. Far from it, but it is up there with Highland cattle as being well-loved, deeply commercial, but adorable with it.

THE JERSEY  🐮

First, let me share the image from my show visit.

The first thing that the uninitiated are inclined to comment upon is the bony appearance. One can be forgiven for thinking that Jerseys often look skeletal on their spine and hindquarters. However, this is actually the ideal weight for a dedicated dairy animal. To have more fat on them would detract from milk production.

Jersey cows are the second-most prolific milk producers, after the ubiquitous Holstein/Fresian. That said, the breed is quite often adapted around the world and interbred. Here in the UK (and in some other parts of the globe), just as with the Herefords, there is a strict ruling about marketing. Anything claiming to be Jersey milk/butter/cream, etc, must be from a certified and verified bloodline Jersey heritage. In other countries, and specifically the USA, there has been 'development' of the breed and the lineage there is considered a sub-breed, being much larger and less refined in appearance. Product should be marked as American Jersey.

The original island cattle are small in stature, lightweight, very docile, and have a strict breeding code. Some herds have imported semen from other cattle, so the progeny cannot be recorded in the herd book, and the product from those cattle cannot be claimed as being Jersey dairy. 

Jerseys make good pet cows, too. My aunt was permitted one on the hill farm - Missy - and it is on her that I learned to milk by hand. It was a joy, then, when visiting the Sydney City Farm a few years back, that I got the chance to milk their pet Jersey, Jenny...

She took her time sniffing me to make sure I was the right sort of person to be manhandling her bits! Acquaintance made, things went well. There may have been a demand for hay...

Jersey milk is the champagne of milks. After tea and water, milk is what I love to drink, whether straight from the bottle/carton, warmed up, made into shakes or smoothies... or custard... I'm a proper milkaholic. When budget allows, I extend to purchase of Graham's Gold Top (pure Jersey), though they also do a fine organic range from their mixed herds. 

Oh slurperoonies!!! 

Interestingly, I am not much of one for cream, but I do enjoy the proper milk top clots that Graham's get into their Gold Top bottles. It takes me back to childhood and that fresh-from-Missy milk. 

Excuse me... I'm having a moment...

Let's finish off with just a wee video of Dr Graham telling us about his Jersey herd... and that's it - for now - on the farm animals. Thanks for coming along on these posts, and for showing enthusiasm!