Jersey Cattle Facts

Originating on Jersey, the British-owned island that lies off the northern coast of France, Jersey cattle can now be found in large numbers in the farming industries of countries such as the U.S., Australia, South Africa, the UK and Zimbabwe. Indeed, jersey cattle are the second most popular breed of dairy cattle in the world, after the Holstein.

  1. History

    • Jersey cattle are generally considered to be one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world. They are thought to have been pure-breeds (only mating with their own species) for over 600 years, but their pure-bred status has been officially guaranteed from 1763. This status is fairly easy to maintain as since 1789 they have been the only breed of cattle allowed on Jersey, on which there have been Jersey cattle for over 1,000 years.

    Appearance

    • Typically, Jersey cattle are a light brown or fawn color. However, the range of coloring can extend from gray to a dull black (often known as Mulberry), while some have a reddish tinge to their coats.
      For all these colors, the underside of the cow is invariably lighter than the top. The most distinctive physical trait of the Jersey cow is a black or, occasionally, buff-colored nose, bordered by a white band on the muzzle. A comparatively small cow, it tends to have a broad face, prominent eyes and long eyelashes.

    Milk

    • Milk from Jersey cattle is considered to be more luxurious than average cow's milk. This is primarily due to the high percentage of butter fat, which makes up between 5 and 7 percent of the Jersey's milk. This is 25 percent more than in average milk. It also contains considerably more calcium and protein. Jersey cattle are also able to produce more milk per pound of body weight than any other breed of dairy cow. They may be small but they are incredibly efficient at producing milk. In the UK the average is over 11,000 pounds of milk per cow, per year. One particularly potent cow, named Marlu Milady, produced 22,236 gallons of milk during her lifetime. That's about half the volume of an Olympic swimming pool.

    Breeding

    • Jersey cattle reach maturity between 19 months and two years of age, although the latter is more common. Jerseys are renowned for having trouble-free pregnancies and for giving birth relatively easily. One of the reasons for this may be because Jerseys are considered to be more highly resistant to disease than other species. This ease of breeding enables them to be cross-bred with many different, larger types of cow.

    Popularity

    • The rich, nutritious milk of the Jersey cow means that it is becoming more and more popular, particularly given the rise in interest during recent times of more healthy living produce. In the UK products made from Jersey milk (and that from Guernsey cattle, who come from a neighboring island) have their own special label, the "Gold Top". In the U.S. and South Africa, the Jersey is the only dairy cattle breed whose population is increasing, due to demand for their distinctive milk.