UMASS/AMHERST

illllllilll

31EDbbDDS]i37n4

MASSACHUSETTS STATE COLLEGE

,oi?-*5^*^

DATE DUE 1

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY

SF

199

K4

A5

no.U8

191U19

■L

THE

AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE CLUB

BULLETIN ONE.

OCTOBER, 1911

I>exter Low, WAIERVILLE VIOLET.

Imported by Waddington J'arm, West Virginia.

Owned by Ohio State University, Columbus.

Reserve at Royal Dublin Show, Ireland.

The Organiz:ition of the Club The Articles of Association Description of the Kerry and Dexter Scale of Points of the Kerry and Dexter The Kerry and Dexter as Producers

The Organization of the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club

For some years a number of herds of Kerry and Dexter Cattle have existed in America. Recently the interest in these breeds had grown to such an extent that an organization to promote their interests, and care for their registration and transfer became a necessity. During the year ID 10, Prof. C. S. Plumb, of the Ohio State University, sought by corres- pondence to ascertain something of the ownership and size of Kerry and Dexter herds in America, and addressed letters to every person of whom he could learn owning these cattle. Less than 20 herds were located, but some of these were large and were actively engaged in development. In response to the request for views on forming an organization, the sentiment was very much in favor of doing this.

It was not thought expedient to have a called meeting, owing to the small number of persons owning these cattle, and their distribution over the country. Consequently those breeders interested, effected an organization by means of cor- respondence and a mail vote. A temporary list of officers necessary for the transaction of business was suggested and these were balloted on by mail, in July, litll, with the follow- ing results :

OFFICERS OF THE AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE CLUB.

President. G. M. Carnochan, New City. Xew York.

Vice President, C. 11. Berry man, Mgr. Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Ky.

Secretary-Treasurer, C. S. Plumb, Columbus, Ohio.

Executive Committee: (i. M. Carnochan, C. H. Berry- man, C. S. Plumb, Maurice Molloy, Agt. Castlegould, I'ort Washington, New York; and P.. Xascni Hamlin. Boston. Mass.

These officers were elected to serve until the member- ship can be represented in regular meeting at some future time, when conditions will permit a more formal organization of the Club.

At the time of the election of officers, the following Articles of Association were adopted by mail vote:

-2-

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

of the

AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE CLUB

Organization.

1. This organization shall be called the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Clnb.

Membership. ■<;. The membership fees shall be ten dollars ($10.00). State Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations shall be regarded as honorary members, without voting privileges, but with membership fees.

Purpose.

;J. The purpose of this club shall be to promote the breed- ing of pure bred Kerry or Dexter cattle in America, by dis- semination of information concerning these cattle ; keeping a record of registration and transfer of individual pure bred animals ; jjublishing a herd registry or other information of importance ; and protecting the integrity of Kerry and Dexter pedigrees in .-Xmcrica so far as possible.

Foundation Stock,

4. (a) Any animal imported from Ireland or England u\i to January 1st, 1912. from ancestry registered in the Royal Dublin Society's Kerry and Dexter Herd liook or in the I^nglish Kerry and Dexter Cattle ."-Society Herd Book, l)y which a connected registration rect)rd may be show^n. (b) .\lso up to January 1st, 1912. any animal of Kerry or Dexter breeding, from unregistered ancestry in America, that prop- erly certified evidence shows to have come or descended from stock of pure Kerry or Dexter breeding, imported from Ire- land or England, (c) Also, up to January 1st, 1912, of any animal imported from Ireland or England of Kerry or Dexter breeding, of which certified evidence is given, yet not from registered ancestry.

Pedigree Stock.

.Kfter January Isl. 1912. no cattle shall be registered 1)\ this Club, excepting those of registered ancestry in America, or those imported, that are registered in the Royal Dublin or I'.nglish Kerry and Dexter Societies books. To be eligible for registrv bv this Club, the sire and dam must have been registered and made a matter of reciM^d on the books.

Registration and Transfer.

,_ n. Kerrv Cattle w ill lu' kept classitied 1)\ themselves, and

CO ' q '

»-«

D_ UJ 'J5

Dexter cattle likewise, each forming an independent gronp. The product of a cross of Kerry and Dexter blood shall be regarded as a cross bred and ineligible for registration.

7. Printed forms for registration and transfer will be furnished by the Secretary free of charge. All applications for registry of imported animals must be accompanied by Government certificates of importation and certificates from the Secretary of either the Royal Dublin or English registry societies, unless as provided for under Foundation Stock.

Registry and Transfer Fees.

8. The regular fee for registration to members of the Club shall be one dollar ($1.00). Non-members' fee two dol- lars, ($2.00). All registrations of cattle calved after January 1st, 1912, shall be made within 365 days of calving, or be subject to an excess penalty for registration of five dollars additional to the usual fee.

9. The transfer fee for members shall be twenty-five cents, for non-members, fifty cents, and the seller shall pay cost of transfer certificate, and furnish the same to buyer unless otherwise agreed upon. All fees for transfer will be doubled, if delayed filing with the Secretary over 90 days following the sale.

10. The Secretary is directed to issue no certificates or transfers until the payments for the same have been received at the office of the Club. Exception to this rule, however, may be made in the case of State or Government Institutions, where authority to furnish registry certificate or transfer has been officially made.

Publications.

11. This Club shall publish from time to time, as funds may permit, a herd register, and any literature of an educa- tional character that will aid in placing the merits of Kerry and Dexter cattle before the public.

A BRITISH DESCRIPTION OF THE KERRY.

The following description is taken from Volume XI for 1910, of the English Kerry and Dexter Herd Book. The scale of points following the description is from the same source.

The cow should be long', level and deep, her color black, her head long and fine; her horns fine at base, mottled or white tipped with l)lack, u])right and cocked; her eye soft and prominent ; lier bone fine ; her coat in summer like satin, in winter long and thick; hor uddcM* sIkhiIcI be soft and large, but not ilcsliv. i)r()ti rding well under t;ic IicIIn-, the

-5-

teats being" placed square and well apart, the milk veins promi- nent and large ; the tail should be well put on, and have at the end long, fine, ])lack hair. The Kerry cow should not weigh over 9()U pounds live weight, when in breeding condition.

Note: A small amount of white on the udder and under- line not to dis(|ua]if\-.

The bull sliould l)e whole black without a wliite hair; should have a long head, wide between the eyes, of masculine character, throat clean, horns medium length, mottled or white with black ti])s, turning backwards; withers fine; back straight from withers to setting on of tail, which should be long, fine. ti))ped with black hairs. The Kerry bull should not weigh o\er 10(10 ]:)ounds live weight when in breeding condition.

Dexter Cow, Slane Clare. First prize at New York State Fair 1911.

Champion at Royal Show of England. Owned and imported by Howard Gould, Port Washington, New York.

Scale of Points of Kerry Cow.

(icn. formation and character, head, liorns and liair.:'.0 points. Udder, size, shape, situation of teats, milk \eins and

escutcheon, etc ' |o ])oints

Quality and toucli 1" ])oints

Color ".^'^ ])oints

Perfect ion points

-6- Scale of Points of Kerry Bull.

General formation and character 25 points

Head, horns and hair 25 points

Quality and touch 20 points

Color 30 points

Perfect 100 points

A BRITISH DESCRIPTION OF THE DEXTER.

Reproduced from the English Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, Volume XI, for H»10. The scale of points is from the same source.

1. The Dexter is essentially both a milk producing and a beef-making breed, and both these points should, in judging, be taken into consideration.

2. Color Bulls. Whole black or whole red (the two colors being of equal merit). A little white on organs of generation not to disqualify an animal, which answers all other essentials of this standard description. Cows. Black or red (the two colors being of equal merit). White on udder and the extension of white on udder slightly along inside of flank or underline of the belly, or white on tassel of tail, may be allowed on animal which answers all other essentials of this standard description.

3. Head and neck. Head short and broad, with great width between the eyes, and tapering gracefully towards mijzzle, which should be large, with wide distended nostrils. Eyes bright, prominent, and of a kind and placid expression. Neck short, deep and thick, and well set into the shoulders, which, when viewed in front, should be wide, showing thick- ness through the heart, the breast coming well forward. Horns These should be short and moderately thick, spring- ing well from the head, with an inward and slightly upward curve.

4. Body. Shoulders of medium thickness, full and well filled in l)ehind ; hips wide; quarters thick and deep and well si)rung; flat and wide across the loins ; well ribbed up ; straight underline ; udder well forward, and broad behind, with well placed teats of moderate size; legs short (especially from knee to fetlock), strong, and well placed under body, which should be as close to the ground as possible. Tail well set on and level with back.

5. Skin. The skin should l)e soft and mellow, and handle

-7-

well, not too thin, hair fine, plentiful and silky.

Dexter bulls should not exceed 900 pounds live weight, when in breeding condition. Dexter cows should not exceed 800 pounds live weight, when in breeding condition.

Scale of Points of Dexter Bull.

General formation and character 35 points

I lead, horns and hair 25 points

Quality and touch 20 points

Color 30 points

Perfect 100 points

Scale of Points of Dexter Cow.

Head, neck and horns 15 points

Body, top line, underline, ribs, setting on of tail,

shortness of leg, etc 25 points

Bag -10 points

Quality and touch 10 points

Color. ' 10 points

Perfect 100 points

THE KERRIES AND DEXTERS AS PRODUCERS.

Tlie serious argument in behalf of these two breeds is that of milk production, and the cost thereof. Naturally, but little information is available, either in Great Britain or America. The American herds are small, and but little thus far has been attempted by owners to show the productivity of the cows. However, in Ireland and England there are many herds, and heavy producing cows are not uncommon. Mr. R. Tait Robertson, an eminent breeder near Dublin, says in an article published by him : "The milking properties of both breeds may be said to be of about equal merit, and the average (|uantity is about 12 quarts per diem from each cow for a per- iod of six months after calving. Many instances, however, of cows producing up to 20 quarts and 22 quarts per day, are quite familiar to breeders, and that of Mr. C. R. W. Adeane's famous Kerry, Babraham I'elle, and Mr. M. J. Sutton's Dexter Red Rose, mav be cjuoted. The marvelous record of Mr. Adeane's cow, Babraham Belle, was something like 1.100 gallons per annum, and Red Rose, after calving on December 20th, in the vear 1H!)3, gave, up to the following September. 5 tons. 11 c\vt.. 11 11)S. of milk, or more than 1.220 gallons."

Prof, lames Pong, \ery ])rominent in I'jiglish dairy

circles, a well known author and educator, in The Agricul- tural Gazette of August 21, 1905, makes the following state- ments :

"If we take the milking trials at the National Dairy Show at Islington, and travel over a number of years, we find that in one year eight Kerries averaged 3G pounds or more than 3^ gallons of milk per day, this milk containing 3^ per cent, of fat. In another year twelve Kerries averaged 25^ pounds of milk per day, this milk containing the large pro- portion of 43^ per cent, of fat, while the solids not fat reached 9.2 per cent. Again in a third year, seven Kerries averaged 33^ pounds of milk, containing ;).()9 per cent, of fat. In two other years the averages of ten cows in each year were 27^4 pounds of milk and 33 pounds of milk, the fat percentage being in one case 4.30 and in the ether 4.26, while in every instance but the first named, the solids not fat exceeded 9 per cent. In the first place, I would notice that taking the whole series the Kerries very nearly approached 3)4 gallons of milk per day, while in three different years 32 cows gave milk exceeding -i}-^ per cent, of fat, which practically means that although some of the animals must have yielded less, others probably reached nearly or quite 5 per cent."

AAHiile biit few records of Kerry or Dexter cattle have been made in America, there are some of special interest. At the Castlegould Estate of Mr. Howard Gould. Port Washing- ton, N. Y., Mr. Maurice Molloy, the manager is making care- ful tests of the herd. In 1910 five Dexter cows made the fol- lowing records in this herd : 73-1-9 pounds milk testing" 4.3 per cent, fat; 8268 pounds milk testing 4.0 per cent fat; 6127 pounds milk testing 3.9 per cent, fat; 6507 pounds milk testing 4.4 per cent, fat, and 5235, pounds milk testing 4.1 per cent. fat. Mr. Molloy writes : "The soil is shockingly poor, and burns very badly in the summer." Mr. G. M. Carnochan writes that his Kerries average 15 to 20 quarts per day, and that he has none that test under 4jA per cent. fat.

AMERICAN HERDS OF KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE.

Tlie foII(^wing persons own more or less cattle of these breeds, this information being based on correspondence with the Secretary.

Mr. G. M. Carnochan, Cairnsmuir, New City, New York.

Elmendorf Farm, Mr. C. H. Berrvman, Mgr., Lexington, Ky.

Castlegould, ^l\\ Maurice Molloy, Agt., Fort Washington, New York.

-9-

Mr. Whitelaw Reid, Ophir Farm, W. C. Whipple, Mgr., Purchase. Xew York.

Mr. Clarence :\Ioore, 723 15th Street, AVashington, D. C.

Mr. F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, Xew York.

Air. V. X. Terpenning, West Oneonta, Xew York.

r)hi() State University. Columbus, Ohio.

Air. F. J. Rogers. Alills Bldg., San Francisco, California.

Mr. 15. X'^ason Hamlin, 59 Congress Street, Boston, Mass.

Besides the above, there are some herds concerning which the Secretary is unable to obtain any information, excepting from rumor. A number of persons also own two or three head each, and these are not listed here.

i

m

Kerry Bull, NAFOLCON. First prize New York State Fair 1911. Owned by F. N. Terpenning, V/est Oneonta, New York.

-10-

Cairnsmuir Kerry Herd

Mr. G. M. Carnochan, Proprietor, New City, New York.

One of the Oldest Herds of Kerries in America. Cattle from this herd were exhibited in 1904 at the

LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION

The only exhibit of this breed at St. Louis.

Correspondence Solicited.

The Largest Herd of

Kerry and Dexter Cattle in America

IS OWNED BY

Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky.

We own many imported cattle, and have a limited number of choice animals for sale.

Visitors are always welcome at ELMENDORF.

Electric car service from Lexington to the Farm.

-11-

A Choice Kerry Bull

Two Years Old in October, 1911.

Is Offered for Sale by the

Department of Animal Husbandry

Ohio State University - - Columbus, Ohio

The Herd of Dexter Cattle

OWNED BY

Castlegould Estate, Mr. Maurice Molloy, Agent, Port Washington, Long Island, New York,

Consists of many choice individuals, in- cluding the best Royal prize winners of Ireland and England.

Our Show at the 1911 New York State Fair

Attracted much attention.

THE

AMERICAN KERRY i!ND DEXTER CATTLE CLUB

BULLETIN TWO.

,1912

A MODEL DEXTER COW, a prize winner at the Royal Agricultural Society Show. Photograph by courtesy of Mr. A. J. Hickman, Egerton, England.

OFFICERS OF

American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club,

President G. M. Carnochan,New City, New, York.

Vice Pres. C. H. Berryman, Mgr. Elmendorf Farm,

Lexington, Ky. Sec'y-Treas. C. S. Plumb, Columbus, Ohio Executive Committee: -G. M. Carnochan, C. H. Berryman, C. S. Plumb, and Maurice Malloy, Agt. Castlegould, Port Washington, N. Y.

KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE AT THE 1911 FAIRS

Exhibits of these two breeds were made at the New York State Fair and some of the minor Eastern shows. There was also an exhibit at the X'irginia State Fair that was shown at Syracuse. Cattle in this exhibit at both shows were ruled out as not fair representatives of the breed, the judges being C. S. Plumb at Syracuse and J. H. Morgan, of Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Ky., at the A'irginia Fair. The one real notable show of 1911 was at the National Dairy Show at Chicago. Excellent exhibits were made by Howard Gould of Castle- gould, Port \\'ashington. New York, and Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky.

Fig. 1. GORT SUNBEAM 2nd. 24(2285 E) Imp. Sire Gort Sam [516 R. D. S.]; Dam, Gort Sunbeam [2204 R. D. S.], winner of the Howard Gould Challenge Cup as the best individual Dexter over two years at the National Dairy Show, 1911. A champion in the leading Irish Shows. Owner, Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Ky.

The following are the Dexter awards at the National Dairy Show, C. S. Plumb, judge:

Bull 3 years old or over {1 entry).

1st, Howard (iould on T(im Thumb. Bull 2 years old and under 3 (4 entries).

1st, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Hero "id; 2d, Howard 3

Gould on Castlegould Diplomat.

Bull 1 year old and under 2 (1 entry).

1st, Howard Gould on Castlegould Comrade.

Cow 3 years old or over (5 entries).

1st, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Sunbeam 3d; 2d, How- ard Gould on Gort Queen.

Cow 2 years old and under 3 (4 entries).

1st, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Negress 4th; 3d, How- ard Gould on Castlegould Duchess.

Heifer 1 year and under 2 (G entries).

1st, Howard Gould on Castlegould Milliner; 3d, Howard Gould on Castlegould Blanche.

Exhibitors' herd: Howard Gould.

Champion bull : Tom Thumb.

Champion cow: Gort Sunbeam 3d.

THE HOWARD GOULD SILVER CHALLENGE CUP.

Mr. Howard Gould offered a silver challenge cup, for the best Dexter specimen over one year old shown at the Na- tional Dairy Show. It must be won at least three years in all by the same person or firm for permanent ownership, and must not be won more than twice by the same animal. The cup was awarded Elmendorf Farm on Gort Sunbeam 3d. 34(338r)E.) This cow' was imported by Elmendorf Farm and was an undefeated prize winner on the other side of the water.

The cup has been delivered to Elmendorf Farm, and it is hoped that there will be an active contest for its possession at the 1913 show.

FOUNDATION AND PEDIGREE STOCK IN IRELAND.

The following are from the rules and regulations of the Royal Dublin Society's Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, de- fining Foundation and Pedigree Stock. This is published here as important information to American breeders, and is as follows :

Foundation Herd.

"(l) All animals entered in the first, second, and third issues of the Kerry Register, as published by the Farmers' Gazette, shall be accepted as the basis of the Royal Dublin Society's Kerry and Dexter Herd Book. The number given to each animal in the Register shall be the Herd Book num- ber of that animal.

Pedigree Stock.

"(8) Any animal is eligible for entry as a Kerry which is the produce of a sire and dam, both of which are duly entered, or are eligible for entry, in the Kerry Herd Book; in the latter case the sire and dam must also be entered.

4

"(o) Any animal is eligible "for entry as a T)exter whVch ns the produce of a sire and dam, both of which are duly .entered, or are eligible for entry, in the Dexter Herd Book; in the latt-er <:ase the sir-e and dam must also be entered.

"(4) Any animal is eligible for entry in tlve Herd Book •of its breed il the sir« aiid the dam's sire, and the grand- Adam's sire are -all entered, or -are eligibk for entry in th-e .'Herd Eiodk, but th-e dam and sire anust be of one breed. The .-sires not already -entered must also be entered.

"(5) A cross between a Kerjry and a Dexter is con- sidered to be ^ ha3f-breed aaid cannot be entered.'"

BRITISH KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE ASSOCIATIONS.

The Irish Association, The Irisli Farm-ers' Gazette amdertook the publication of a Register, and in January, 1.S8T, published tire first issue of their "Register of Pure Kerry Cattle and Dexters."" This "Register comprised three ■\'olumes, including 4(5 Kerry bulls and 100 Kerry -cows. It •did not include any Dexter bulls and only 10 Dexte-r cows. The Ro\^l Dublin Society acquired from the publishers of the Farnrers' Gazette tlieir rights in connection with this Register, and the cattle, with the numbers originally assigned to them, were included in A'olume one of the Kerry and Dexter H^rd BDo"k, published by the Royal Dublin Society in 1.S90. Up to January, 1912, this Society has published fourteen volumes, Vol. XIV being dated i909. The total registration shows, of Kerries, bulls 678, coAvs 3565" of Dex- ters, bulls .ili."), cows ■?34"9.

The English Association. In 1892 there was organized in England the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society. This was formed from the fact that not much had been done to show the value of these breeds outside of Ireland, and it was felt that a society in England could render important service in promoting thesie breeds. Volume one of the Hefd Book was published later (m, volume two appearing in 1902. Eleven vohmies of the English Herd Book have been pub- lished uy) to January, 1912, Vol. Xl having been issued in 1910. 4"hese volumes show the following number of ani- mals registered. Kerries, bulls 238, cows 1334: Dexters, bulls 455, cows 1820. The headquarters of the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Societv are at 19 Bloomsburv Square, London^

v;. C.

RESIGNATION OF MR. B. NASON HAMLIN.

Mr. B. Xason Hamlin of Boston found it necessary to sell his herd of Kerry cattle, and these were p\n"chase(l by Mr. .\lbert X. White of Greenfield, Xew Hampshire, who has become a member of the Club. Mr. Hamlin has tendered his resignation from the Executive Committee.

SOME ENGLISH KERRY MILK RECORDS.

Records at Babraham Hall, England. By the courtesy of Mr. F. X. Webb of Babraham, England, the Secretary has. been furnished with copies of the records made by that herd,„ which is now dispersed. These records are selected as the. best in the lists furnished. Some of the cows recorded be- low were exhibited at fairs, so that some of these records, are a few days' short the entire \ear.

Name

Breed

Yield Milk

No. Days

Year

Blackberry 11

Kerry

GSTl)

290

1890-189L

Babraham Belle

Kerry

G5(Vt

292

1890- 189 L

Bumble Bee

Kerry

iS28i'

317

1890-1891

Barbara

Kerry

6225>4

305

1890-1891

Lesbia

Kerry

6449

298

1890-189L

Blackberry II

Kerry

nim/z

308

1891-189->

Bridesmaid

Kerry

6259>i

330

1891-189"i

Babraham Belle

Kerry

595a

282

1891-1892

Blackberry II

Kerry

6400

272.

1892-189;^

Babraham Belle

Kerry

6764

289

1892-1893.

Blackberry II

Kerry

6783>4

329

1893-1894r

Lesbia

Kerry

6799>4

322

1893-1894:

Lesbia

Kerry

6246

273

1894-1895

Black Bess

Kerry

6943 >4

. . .

18.95-1896;

Briony

Kerry

6103

301

1894-1895

Black Bess

Kerry

5943>^

1895-189(>

Basingstoke

Kerry

66941^

266

1895-189(>

Bulletin I of this Club was issued in October, 1911. It contains a statement of the Club organization; the Articles of Association ; a description of the Kerry and Dex- ter, and scales of points, from the Eng^lish point of view ; and some facts regarding^ production. Copies of this bulletin may be had on application. The following correction should be made in Bulletin I. The cow Waterville Violet on the cover, is a Kerry and not a Dexter, and on pag-e 5, the word Clare should be spelled Clara, as applied to the cow in the picture.

PROF. JAMES LONG ON "KERRY COWS."

Prof. James Lon^ is one of the noted English authorities on dairying and dairy cattle He long held the position of Prof, of Agriculture in the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, and has been an ag'ricultural and live stock author of eminence. The following article from his pen was published in the Agricultural Gazette (London), August 21, 1905, and is of importance as coming from disinterested sources :

Se\'^ral years ago I had the privilege of paymg a visit tto the great cattle fair at Kenmare, in County Kerry, in company with three of the brightest and most popular friends -of Irish agriculture, all dear friends of my own the late Klanon Bagot, the late Mr. James Robertson, and Professor Carrol, who happily is still among us. There could scarcely he a happier trio of jnen better calculated to make a trip -instructive, enjoyable, and successful. After a visit, through .the help of the resident Canon, to the Convent of the Poor Clares, where the sister who conducted us was unmercifully chaffed, we went fairly early in the morning into the fair, where some 3U0() Kerries of all shapes and qualities were .gathered together. We had already paid visits to a number of little fann-s in the mountains where Kerries were kept, and I at least had expressed m\' surprise at the conditions under which the milk was produced and skimmed, and the hutter made, for we found in one instance at least that the milk-pans were under the bed, while in others they were -placed in dajnp caves or stone-constructed outhouses, which were utterly unfit for the purpose. We had seen how poor and miserable were many of the cattle, and how unlike the Kerry as we know it in the English showyard or in the pad- dock of the Kerry fancier. It was not surprising, therefore, to find that the \'ast majority of the animals collected in Kenmare Fair were of similar type, and, if I may trust to memory, I believe Mr. Robertson bought the best bull and best animal of all exhibited at quite a moderate price. The cows in a Ken\v fair, however, are not precisely what such a man would l^reed from or recommend. That they are in a measure adapted to live upon the poor herbage of the mountain-side is true, but inasmuch as the herbage, on some farms at least, consisted of anything but grass, it is not sur- prising that the Kerry is small, and that on her native soil she is thin and a producer of a very small quantity of milk or butter.

One must not be guided by what is to be seen in County Kerry. The cow to which it gives its name is capable of much better things, and only needs a chance to eiialile her to put on a handsome appearance, and to produce a quantity of milk or butter out of all proportitw to the average which is yielded on the Kerry farm. About the same date to which 1 refer tliere was a Kerry cow in the herd at the Roval Agri- cultural College in which 1 was much interested. This animal not only produced a large yield of milk, but when tested in the month of July, that milk contained o.SO per cent of fat. Two Kerries in the herd averaged during the year 21% pounds of milk per day, while the cream yield reached 1^4 per cent, or more than tliat obtained from the Shorthorns and the Red Polls in the same herds; indeed, tlie Kerries averaged, within a few decimal points, as much milk

7

3.S tlie Red Polls, more tfian tHe Ayrsfiires; and onFy 4' poundss per day less than the Shorthorns, which, as may be supposed., were of high class.

Since that time the Kerry has gone ahead. A society^ has been formed for the promotion of Kerry breeding, classes, are provided at numbers of the best exhibitions, amateurs, have taken up the variety in large numbers, and public and other tests have shown that the Kerry cow is a producer out @f all proportion to her size. If we take the milking trials, at the National Dairy Show at Islington, and travel over: a number of years, we find that in one year eight Kerries^ averaged 36 pounds, or more than 3^ gallons of milk per day, this milk containing 3 1-3 per cent of fat. In another year twelve Kerries averaged 2oy2 pounds of milk per day,, this milk containing the large proportion of 4 1-3 per cent of fat, while the solids not fat reached 9.2 per cent. Again,, in a third year, seven Kerries averaged SoJ/^ pounds of milk,, containing 3.(59 per cent of fat. In two other years the aver- ages cf ten cows in each year were 27^4 pounds of milk and. 33 pounds of milk, the fat percentage being in one case -1:.3(), and in the other 4.26 ; while in every instance but the first- named the solids not fat exceeded 9 per cent. In the first place, I Avould notice that taking the whole series the Kerries very nearly approached 3^4 gallons of milk per day, while. in three different years thirty-two cows gave milk exceeding ■i% per cent of fat, which practically means that although, some of the animals must have yielded less, others probably reached nearly or quite 5 per cent. Here, then, is material for building up a strain or herd of deep and at the same time- rich milkers. Surely the Kerry is' worth supporting under such conditions. The figures point to possibilities which are great, while quite apart from the fact that good prices are now paid for selected stock, the size is such that the Kerry I's practically placed within the reach of the smallest and poorest of cow keepers.

I am afraid the data with regard to butter production is not so prolific, but in one year at the London Dairy Show two Kerries averaged 1 pound 7^ ounces, the butter raticK being almost as good as that of the average Jersey, for it was only 31.28, that is to say a pound of butter was produced from slightly more than 2 gallons of milk, whereas in five vears 126 Jerseys yielded an average of 1 pound 10^ ounces of butter, showing a ratio of 19.15. This remark is made, not to depreciate the splendid powers of the Jersey, but to show the relative capacity of the Kerry. If we go further and see what has been accomplished by individual cows, we find that Babraham Belle, the property of Mr. Adeane, pro- duced some 1100 gallons of milk in a year, while we are told by Mr. Tait-Robertson. who has evidently inherited the pas- Eion for the Kerry entertained by his late father, that many

8

instances are on record of yields of 20 to 22 quarts per day. !,ir. Robertson regards the Kerry as a general-purpose cow, suitable alike for a three-acre allotment or a ;30()-acre farm in a word, as a cow for the poor as well as for the rich man, especially as their relative cost of feeding is considerably less than that of feeding the larger breeds of cattle.

The tvpe of Kerry cow is being improved materially. It is not long since she was vastly different in form, more

Fig. 2. GORT HERO 3d. 6[578 R. D. S.]. Sire, Gort Hero 2d [274 R. D. S.]: dam, Gort Sunbeam 2d. 24[5285 R. D. S.]. 1st prize two year old Dexter bull at National Dairy Show, 1911. Owner, Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Ky.

rotund, coarser, and less like the typical dairy cow than she is today. I have for many years noticed the changes in the showyard. and today a really fine cow is beautifully formed, light in appearance, with a handsome head, white horns tipped with black, which are cocked, a black coat, on which a small amount of white is permissible on the udder and tail althougii. I believe, Kerry men prefer to see a bull absolutely l)lack an active temperament, and a gentle disposition.

9

That there should be any determination on the part of Kerry men to eHminate the white on the points named is incon- ceivable. Given a solid black body .it appears to me that the wisest, as well as the most economical course, is to breed for type and milking powers, those powers being regarded in relation to both quantit}^ and quality of milk. The Kerry, as a small animal, has comparatively small legs, and this gives an incipient plumpness and squareness to her body, while they do not detract from the symmetry of her form. We must not, however, confound the form of the Kerry with

Fig. 3. A DEXTER COW. Photograph from Mr. R. Tait-Robertson, The Hutch, Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland. This great little cow Mr. Robertson writes is making 22 quarts of milk a day.

the form of the Dexter, which is essentially short, thick, mas- sive, and square. The Kerry breeder is clearly aiming at the form of the very best type of Jersey and Guernsey, but we must not forget, again, that there are two types of the Jersey which respectively have their admirers, the show Jersey, fawn-like and delicate in form, and the working Jersey, with a larger body, bigger digestive apparatus, greater room for the play of the vital organs, and a strength of body character which adapts it for the production of large quanti- ties of rich milk.

10

REGISTRATION OF KERRIES AND DEXTERS.

Since this Club began business Kerry or Dexter cattle have been registered by the following :

G. M. Carnochan, Cairnsmuir, New City, Xew York.

Elmendorf Farm. Lexington, Kentucky.

Howard Gould. Castlegould, Port Washington, X. Y.

Oak Hill Estate. Cniontown, Pennsylvania.

Ohio State University. Columbus. Ohio.

Albert N. White. Greenfield, Xew Hampshire.

F. J. Rodgers. Mills Building, San Francisco, California.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, Xew York.

Persons receiving this bulletin are advised not to pur- chase Kerry or Dexter cattle unless registered on the books

Fig. 4. A PRIZE WINNING KERRY COW at the Royal Agricultural Society Show. Photograph by courtesy of Mr. A. J. Hickman, Egerton, England. A fine type of the breed.

of this Club. It should be made a rule of purchase, that henceforth cattle of these breeds, on sale, must be accom- panied with certificates of registry and transfer. If persons contemplating purchase will consult the Secretary, he will be pleased to advise correspondents as to whether the animals in question are registered (^r not. In this day, unregistered animals have no standing as a pure bred proposition, unless as young calves that will be registered at a suitably early date.

11

A SALE OF KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE AT READING, ENGLAND.

The Live Stock Journal of London reports the following sale of Kerry and Dexter cattle at Reading, England, in October, 191 1. This is given in this Bulletin in order to show American buyers something of prices abroad. The sale was at Tompkins' Repository, Reading. Messrs. Hammand and Crawfurd, Secretaries of the English Kerry and Dexter Society, conducted the sale, under the auspices of the Society. The catalogue contained forty-two head, amongst which were some very desirable animals, some being prize winners and cows in or near profit. There was a good company of breed- ers present, including Mr. George Habgood and Mr. T. Waite (Past Presidents of the Society), the Elon. Claud and Mrs. Claud Portman, the Rev. Lingard Simkin, Mr. C. Wilkinson, Captain Palmer, Mr. Patrick Taafife, Mr. R. Tait-Robertson, and representatives of Mr. H. Martin Gibbs, Lord Haversham and the Hon. J. H. Ward, etc. The sale commenced soon after one o'clock, and a ready market was found for anything in or close on profit. Lord Haversham, the Hon. John Ward and Mr. George Habgood were among the purchasers. Mr. J. L. Ames (from Northumberland), Mr. Owen Williams (from South Wales) and Mr. S. Ashley were large buyers, and two lots were purchased for Italy. In all forty lots were sold at an average of $()0, a very satisfactory result when it is considered there were a good many animals which would not come into profit during the coming winter. The total of the sale amounted to $2415. The chief prices were as fol- lows. The prices are converted from guineas into dollars as a matter of convenience :

Bulls.

Price. Mr. L. Currie's ''Ard Caien Duke" (Kerry), calved February 19, 1910. Sire, Carton Beau. G. Hab- good $ 85.00

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "La Mancha Old Dick" (Kerry), calved Octoljer 10, 1910. Sire La Mancha Tip and Run. W. Vicary '^2.50

Hon. J. H. Ward's "Lucifer" (Dexter), calved March 30, 191 1. Sire, La Mancha Prince of Peace. R. Brydon 70.00

Cows and Heifers.

Mr. R. Tait-Robertson's "Gort Princess" (Dexter).

calved 1901. G. Long (15.00

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "La Mancha Orphan Kate"

(Kerry), calved 1904. J. L. Ames 90.00

" 12

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "Duv Tit Bit" (Dexter), calved

May 5, 1906. Sire, Little Fool. Hon. J. Ward. . 100.00

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "La Mancha Darkie" (Kerry),

calved 1907. Mrs. Ratcliff 80.00

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "La Mancha Friendship" (Ker- ry), calved 1907. J. L. Ames 80.00

]\Ir. H. Martin Gibbs' "Barrow^ Daisy" (Dexter),

calved 1907. G. Habgood 77-50

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "La Mancha Molly" (Kerry),

calved 1907. J. L. Ames 70.00

Mr. R. T. Robertson's "La Mancha Polly" (Kerry),

calved 1908. J. L. Ames 75-00

Mr. L. Ctirrie's "Minley Maid" (Kerry), calved 1908.

G. Habg-ood 80.00

^Ir. L. Currie's "Minley Matron" (Kerry), calved

1908. J. Hales 60.00

Mr. H. Martin Gibbs' "Barrow Musical" (Dexter),

calved 1910. R. Brydon 16.00

Forty head average i2 pounds, i shilling, 6 pence: $60.

13

Cairnsrauir Kerry Herd

Mr. G. M. Carnochan, Proprietor, New City, New York.

One of the Oldest Herds of Kerries in America. Cattle from this herd were exhibited in 1904 at the

LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION

The only exhibit of this breed at St. Louis.

Correspondence Solicited.

The Largest Herd of

Kerry and Dexter Cattle in America

IS OWNED BY

Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky.

We own many imported cattle, including noted prizewinners, and have a limited number of choice animals for sale at reasonable prices.

Visitors are always welcome at ELMENDORF.

Electric car service from Lexington to the Farm.

-14-

A Select Kerry Bull Calf

Calved Dec. 22, 1911.

Is Offered for Sale by the

Department of Animal Husbandry

Ohio State University - - Columbus, Ohio

This calf is from Bognut of Waddington, a very promising young cow in the University Herd.

PRICE STS.OO

The Castlegould Herd of Dexter Cattle

Mr. Howard Gould, Owner. Mr. Maurice Malloy, Agent

Port Washington, Long Island, New York

Consists of many choice individuals, in- cluding the best Royal prize winners of Ireland and England.

Our Exhibit at the 1911 National Dairy Show attracted much attention

-15-

. I 2-

THE

AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE CLUB

BULLETIN THREE NOVEMBER, 1912

Fig. 1. KiNGSWOOD COURTLEY GiRL 7(1151). First prize aged cow and champion Dexter female at the New York State Fair, 1912. Owned and exhibited by Howard Gould.

OFFICERS OF

American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club,

President G. M. Carnochan, New City, New York.

Vice Pres C. H. Berryman, Mgr. Elmendorf Farm,

Lexington, Ky. Sec'y-Treas. C. S. Plumb, Columbus, Ohio. Executive Committee :-G. M. Carnochan, C. H. Berryman,

C. S. Plumb, and Maurice Malloy, Agt. Castlegould,

Port Washington, N. Y.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KERRY TO AMERICA By C. S. Plumb.

Comparativeh' little has been published concerning the Kerry breed of cattle, and especially in America. For this reason a few facts are here given regarding the early history of the breed in this country.

Mr. Sanford Howard of Boston, Mass. was probably the first importer of the Kerry to America. He visited Ireland in 1858 and 1859, and made an importation for Arthur \V. Austin of West Roxbury, Mass. In an address before the Xorfolk County Agricultural Society. Air. Howard in 185!» discussed the subject of cattle breeding. On this occasion interesting reference was made to liis obser^•ations in Ireland, as applied to the Kerry. Said Mr. Sanford, quoting from the Report of the Mass. Board of Agriculture for 1859.

"The Kerry breed belongs to the county of that name in Ireland, or more especially to the mountainous portion of that county, where they have probably existed coeval with the present race of human inhabitants. They are very dif- ferent from the cattle which occupy the lower and more fer- tile sections of the island the latter, as lias already been ob- serAed, belonging to the Longhorn tril)e, of large size, the liorns drooping, sometimes crossing each other beneath the lower jaw. The Kerries, on the other hand, are small, with liorns of medium length, rising, and generally somewhat spreading. The color ranges from black to brindled and red, sometimes with a little white, but black is the prevailing color, and is preferred as denoting the nearest affinity with the original type. The Kerry cow has always been consid- ered remarkable as a milker. Youatt says she is emphatically the poor man's cow; hardy, living everywhere, yielding, for her size, abundance of milk of good quality.' M'ill)urn says, 'she is a treasure to the cottage farmer so hard}' that she will live where other cattle starve. She is a perfect machine for converting the coarsest cattle-food into rich and nutri- tious milk and butter.'

''In 1858, and also in 185!). 1 visited the nati\-e country of the Kerry cattle, chiefly for the purpose of learning their characteristics, and purchasing some to send to America. I found the cattle somewhat smaller than T had supposed them to be. but evidently \-ery useful in that localit\- living where no other dairy cattle that I have e\er seen could live. In several instances they were met with at elevations of 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the sea, sharing with the goat the wild herbage of the mcnintainside. As illustrating their hardiness, the following incident is gi\cn: A man led me up a moun- tain glen to see a lot of three-year-old heifers he had grazing there. It apj^eared a mystery t(^ me how the cattle could get round and over the rouuh rocks, and obtain a subsistence.

even in summer. Having- noticed that the man had several stacks of hay down in the valley, w^here was the rude habita- tion which he called his home, I asked him if he was going to take the Kerry cattle there for the winter. He replied, 'No, the hay is for the lowland cattle and the ponies.' He had just been telling of the deep snows which sometimes fall in the mountains, and I asked what the cattle would do in such cases. He said, 'The snow generally softens after a day or two, and the cattle can work through it.'

"It is dilificult to estimate the weig-ht of these cattle, com- pared with others, from what I have seen of them. They are generally large bodied in proportion to their height, their legs being short, and the shank-bone very small. Their heads are generally handsome and the countenance lively, but with a mild expression. The best of them are decidedly attractive in their appearance. A\"hen taken to the low coun- try and supplied with plenty of nutritious food, they become more bulky, but I had no opportunity to see what would be the effect of breeding them for several generations in a milder climate and on a better soil.

"I could not generally obtain reliable statements in re- gard to the yield of milk or butter of these cows. In several instances where they were kept, in the low country, it was stated that they would give, per day. ten imperial quarts of milk, which would afford a pound of butter certainly a large product, considering the size of the animal. It is stated that Mr. Crosby, of Ardfert Abbey, near Tralee, ob- tained in his herd, ranging for seven years in succession, from 28 to SO cows, mostly Kerries. an average of 1,953 quarts of milk in a year, which yielded a pound of butter to eight quarts or 244 lbs. per cow annually, and that one pure Kerry cow in the herd gave 2,725 quarts of milk in ten months.

"I purchased for Arthur W. Austin. Esq., five two-year- old Kerry heifers and a bull of the same breed, which arrived here after a very long and boisterous passage, in November last. The l:»ull, however, was so much exhausted, that he died a few days after his arrival. The others are at Mr. Austin's farm in West Roxbury, and are doing well. An- other Kerry bull has been ordered for Mr. Austin, which it is hoped will reach here in June next, so that through Mr. Austin's exertions it is believed the breed will be fairly in- troduced, and subjected to such thoroug-h trials as will settle the question in regard to their usefulness here."

In IHGO, the committee on cattle of the Norfolk County Agricultural Society reported as follows :

"The most prominent among the cattle brought to our notice, were those of the Kerry breed one bull and seven heifers imported by Arthur W. Austin, of West Roxbury, from the countv of Kerrv, Ireland. They are probal)ly the

first genuine specimens of the breed ever exhibited in this country, and many persons regarded them with curious eyes. In consequence of the loss of the bull first imported by Mr. Austin, he obtained another, 'Mountaineer,' which, with two heifers, arrived in July last. The five heifers of the previous importation are believed to be now in calf by their bull, and are expected to come to milk in April next. They have have gained remarkably since their arrival, aver- aging an increase in girth of nearly an inch a month for the first year. Their indication for dairy purposes are all that could be expected from the high reputation of the breed. The bull is beautifully shaped the forehead broad, the eyes large and full, the muzzle open, the upper and lower lines of the body almost straight while his thick, furry coat and elastic hide, indicate at once an ability to endure a severe cli- mate and to thrive rapidly."

In 1S62, Air. Austin submitted a statement regarding his Kerries, under the date of January 1-1-, this being to the local agricultural society. This report was as follows:

'T often had the milk measured during the past summer, and found it did not go below 60 quarts a day for five heifers of the first importation. On the 31st of May, the five alluded to, having in that month produced their first calves, gave 60 1/3 quarts, or an average of 12 quarts each. On the ll:th of June the same five gave 62^ quarts. Three of them gave a fraction over l-t quarts each. I weighed the morning's milk, and the 31 2/3 quarts, wine measure, weighed 6TJ4 lbs. Of the two last imported heifers, one is fully equal to either of those of the first importation, in proportion to age, she being a year younger, and having given with her first calf over 10 qts. per day during the summer. I do not think the other one comes up to the standard, but she holds out well and gives rich milk. The milk of all of them is of the first quality as to richness. Butter is obtained from the cream in a very short time. Late in October it required less tlian five minutes churning, by the clock, to bring the butter. A lady who sends for six quarts once a week, and who has had much experience, pronounces the production of cream mar- velous. She sa}s she skims it several times o\er. T lia\e had excellent milkers of difi'erent breeds, and liaxc alwavs been particular as to quality more than quantity; but 1 ob- tain from these Kerry heifers as large a quantity of milk as could reasonably be expected, considering their size and age; and the f|uality certainly surpasses, on the average, any milk it has been my fortune to sec. I have now. besides the im- ported stock, three pure bred bulls, which will be a year old in the spring and summer of 1862, three pure-blood heifers and one steer of the same age, one half-blood Kerry and Shetland steer, and three half-l)lood Kerry heifers. .Ml have improxed wonderfully under my winter regimen. We think

.5-

all the imported heifers are in calf to ^Mountaineer, who is in fine condition."

]\Ir. Sanford Howard contributed an article on "The Kerry Breed of Cattle," to the Report of the United States Commission of Agriculture for the year 1862. This article contains some descriptive matter regarding the breed and conditions under which it is kept in Ireland, rather similar to that al)o\-e credited to him in the Massachusetts report. He calls attention in this article to two subjects not men- tioned by him elsewdiere that are of interest. He com- ments on the increase in size of the cattle kept in America. Their growth for the first year was very rapid. When he bought the first five two-year-old heifers, their girth was only four feet. fi\e inches to four feet, six inches. He says, "I measured two of them a few days since, and found their girth five feet and fi\e feet, six inches, although, from having been pretty well milked down during the season, they are in only middling condition."

"The purchase of these cattle in Ireland to come to America," says Air. Howard, "attracted considerable atten- tion. The fact was noted in several newspapers, and while the cattle were in Liverpool, many persons called to see them. Singular as it may seem, but few people in England had ever seen a specimen of the breed. How much this purchase has had to do in l^ringing the Kerries into general notice, I can- not say ; but it is certain that attention has, within a year or two, been more turned to them than ever before. English papers state that Baron Rothschild has sent a large number to his Australian possessions, the first lot of 50 heifers hav- ing been shipped a little more than a year ago. They are also attracting much more attention in England, as is shown l)y the special prizes oft'ered for them by the Royal Agricul- tural Society, and the favorable comment made on those exhibited at its shows."

KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE AT THE 1912 SHOWS

Kerry and Dexter cattle were shown in numerous coun- ty fairs in New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Mary- land and Virginia. Two herds were shown at the New York State Fair at Syracuse, one of Kerries, shown by Mr. F. E. Stevens, of Glens Falls, and the other of Dexters, the prop- erty of Mr. Floward Gould of Castlegould, Port Washing- ton, New York. There Avas no competition in each l^reed. and the awards were made by C. S. Plumb, as judge. At the National Dairy Show at Chicago, there were two herds of Dexters, that of Mr. Gould, and that of Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky. Each of these herds were in beauti- ful condition, and attracted much attention. The following

are the awards made at the New York State Fair and at the National Dairy Show:

Kerry awards, New York State Fair, 1912. All exhil)its by F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, N. Y.

First prize, bull '^ years old and over, Jerr}- Reid.

First prize, bull calf, ]\Iike.

First prize, cow five years old and over, Rose Ambler.

Second prize, cow five vears old and over. Rose Am- l)ler -^d.

First prize, cow two }'ears and under three, Mai^i^ie Ambler.

Second prize, two years and under three. Rose Ambler od.

First prize, heifer one year and under two, lirownie.

Champion male o^■er two years, Jerry Reid.

Champion male under two years, ^like.

Grand champion male, Jerry Reid.

Champion female, o\'er two years. Rose Am1)ler.

Champion female vnider two years. Brownie.

Grand Champion female. Rose Ambler.

Exhibitor's herd, i^et of sire and ])r()duce of dam also awarded 'Sir. Stevens.

Dexter awards, New York State Fair.

All exliiljits I)}' ]li)ward (ioidd, Castlci^t mid. Port \A'ashinLiton, N. Y.

First prize, l)ull '^ }-ears old and o\-er, Tom Thumb.

First prize, ])ull '! \ears old and under :!, Castle^nuld C( tmradc.

First jirize, 1)nll 1 \ear old and under ?, Castlet^ould Clansman.

First ])rize. bull calf, Castle^'ould Duke.

h'irst ])rize, cow ."> vears old and over, Kin^swood Court- ley (iirl.

.Second ])rize, cow ') years and over, Gort Queen.

First ])rizc, cow '^ }'ears old and under •"), Castle^'ould Duchess.

Second prize, cow ;! \ears and under ."i, Castle^i luld Sli])-Knot.

First ]>rize, cow "J \ears old and under ."'!, Castlei^ould Blanche.

Second i)rize, cow "? years old anil under .■!. Castle^'ould AlilHner.

I'"irst ])rize. cow 1 \ear ^Id and under "i. C'astlei^ould lU'atrice.

Second i)rize. cow 1 year old and under ■?, Castlci^iiuld Countess.

First prize, heifer calf, Castk\L;ould Matilda.

Second prize, heifer calf, Castle.^ould Folly.

Chruupion male. o\er 'i years. Castlegould C'omrade.

Cliani])ion male, under '! years. Castles^'ould Clansman.

Grand Champion male, Castlegould Clansman.

Champion female, over 2 vears, Kingswood Courtley Girl.

Champion female, under 2 years, Castlegould Beatrice.

Grand Champion female, Kingswood Courtley Girl.

Exhibitor's herd, breeder's young herd, get of sire and produce of dam were also shown by Mr. Gould.

"^ ^^H

^ '

BWCTp Jra^ ''%■ T^^^BH^S

m

p

I

1

r

Ki^^^Bi

3

k^f^ 1^1

^■1

J

- ■!» t

''a

I

J^f

l^-v Al

«•"«•

Mw.

i

h''

* -- '■>•?/

^

1

wb''

__^Vj,'^^

" , <""

"¥'

^

n

Fig. 2. The cow on the left is Kingswood Courtley Girl 7(]151), first prize cow over 5 years; the cow on the right is Castlegould Duchess 14, first prize cow 3 to 5 years old at the New York State Fair, 1912. Kingswood Courtley Girl produced, in 1911 during 9 months, 5010 pounds of milk averaging 4.73 per cent fat.

NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW AWARDS, CHICAGO.

Prof. F. C. Minkler, New Brunswick, N. J., Judge.

First prize, bull 3 years old or over, Howard Gould on Castlegould Diplomat.

Second prize, bull 3 }ears old or over, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Fred.

First prize, bull 2 years old and under 3, Howard Gould on Castlegould Comrade.

First prize, bull 1 year and under 3, Howard Gould on Castlegould Clansman.

-8-

Second prize. l)ull 1 year old and under 2, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Fred 3d.

First prize. Inill calf. Howard Gould on Castleoould Duke.

First prize, cow 3 years old or over, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Peep.

Second prize, cow 3 years old or over, Howard Gould on Kings wood Courtley Girl.

First prize, cow 2 years and under 3, Elmendorf Farm on Gort Flossie 5th.

Second prize, cow 2 years old and under 3, Howard Gould on Castlegould Blanche.

First prize, cow 1 }'ear old and under 2. Elmendorf Farm on Gort Sunbeam 0th.

Second prize, cow 1 year old and under 2, Howard Gould on Castlegould Countess.

First prize, heifer calf. Howard Gould on Castlegould ^Marion.

Second prize, heifer calf. Howard Gould on Castlegould Polly.

First prize, exhiliitor's herd. Elmendorf Farm.

Second prize, exhibitor's herd, Howard Gould.

Mr. Gould furnished the only exhibits of breeders' young herd, breeder's calf h6rd, get of sire, and produce of cow.

Champion bull, Howard Gould on Castlegould Clansman.

Champion cow, and winner of the Howard Gould silver cup for best female two years old or over. Elmendorf Farm on Gort Peep.

KERRIES SHOWN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

L'nder date of September "2. ^Ir. A. X. White \\rites : "I have just exhibited a part of ni}- herd at the Green- field Fair, llie farmers showed great interest, and such comments as I overheard were extremely favorable."

DEATH OF MR. GEORGE G. MAHONY, AN IRISH KERRY BREEDER.

The Farmer's Gazette of I)u1)lin. contained the following item on .September "H, 191?:

The Kerry breed of cattle has lost one of its most ardent admirers and most spirited supporters by the death of Mr. George Gun Mahony, D.L.. which took place at his residence, Kilmorna House, in the Co. Kerry, a few days ag^o. For man}- years past Mr. Mahony has been actively associated with the development of our native cattle and he l^rought into our leading show yards animals of outstanding excel- lence and type. His herd, indeed, is one of the most valuable in the countrv. The deceased gentleman was exceedingly ])opular and higlil\- esteemed and his death will be widely himented.

-9-

VOL. XII. OF THE ENGLISH KERRY AND DEXTER

HERD BOOK.

A'olume 12 of the English Kerry and Dexter herd book, containing- 140 pages, has recently been published. It con- tains registrations of Kerries as follows: Bulls, 239-377; cows, 1335 to 1555. Dexters are registered as follows: Bulls, 456-495; cows, 18211-201)1.

COMPTON DOT F. S. 809 E. H. B.

The picture on the cover of bulletin two is of Compton Dot F. S. 809 E. H. B. She won first prize at Belfast both in 1900 and 1901, and was owned by the Duchess of Devon- shire. Mr. R. Tait-Robertson writes the Secretary that she W'as winner of 13 first prizes and four championships at the Royal Agricultural Society Show of England, at the Bath and \\^est, Royal Counties, and Oxfordshire Agricultural So- ciety. Mr. Tait-Robertson says she is a perfect model of the breed, and was sold to the late Duchess of Devonshire at a very high price. In her prime she gave from Ki to 18 quarts of milk per da}'.

GORT PRINCESS 1825 R. D. S.

The Dexter cow shown on page 10 of bulletin 2, is Gort Princess 1825 R. D. S. She was calved in 1901, and was qualified by inspection. Mr. R. Tait-Robertson writes that she won three first prizes and one third, the only times shown. She is one of the greatest milkers that the breed has produced, and was sold by Mr. Tait-Robertson for a very long price.

A BOOK ON KERRY CATTLE.

Mr. P. Taaffe of Clonlarf, Dublin, Ireland, owner of the Shamrock herd, writes the Secretary that he is soon to pub- lish a volume dealing with the Kerry, from various points of view. This work is prepared with the purpose of making the merits of the Kerry well known. The author is a large breeder of extended experience, and his observations will no doubt be read with much interest. He has kindly offered to place at the disposal of the Secretary, some of the con- tents of this treatise, for publication in the Bulletin. Persons desiring copies of this volume should address Mr. Taaffe at :i Plillview Terrace, Clonlarf, Dublin, Ireland.

-10-

HERDS OF KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE.

Kerry or Dexter cattle have been registered by the fol- lowing since the Club started business. Some of the herds are very small, and some are of considerable size. But very few females of either breed are for sale. Letters addressed to the undersigned will no doubt receive a response:

G. M. Carnochan, Cairn smuir, New City, New York.

Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky.

Cecil D. Gregg, St. Louis, Missouri.

Howard Gould, Castlegould, Port ^^'ashino•ton. New York.

Oak Hill Estate, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Ohio State University, Columbus. Ohio.

F. J. Rodgers, Mills Building, San Francisco, California.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, New York.

x\lbert N. White, Greenfield, New Hampshire.

Persons contemplating purchasing Kerry or Dexter cat- tle are urged not to do so unless registered on the books of this Club. All sales should be accompanied by a certificate of registry, and also of transfer.

-11-

2 2-

'4 6

Cjl/^Loa^

p The American Kerry ^ iM Dexter Cattle Club

Bulletin Four

November, 1914

Photo by C. S. Plumb

Fig. 1. The Dexter Cow, Harley Coy, (1655) and

Mr. R. Tait Robertson, her owner. First Prize

Royal Society of England Show.

t

—OFFICERS OF- The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club

President, - - G. M. Carnochan, New City, New York Vice President, C. H. Berryman, Mgr. Elmendorf Farm,

Lexington, Ky. Secy-Treas., - - - C. S. Plumb, Columbus, Ohio

i

OBSERVATIONS IN BRITAIN ON KERRIES AND DEXTERS

By Charles S. Plumb

The writer spent about two weeks during the past sea- son in England, Scotland and Ireland, As the Secretary of the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club he was espe- cially interested to see l omething of these cattle, and of the men engaged in breeding them in Europe. It may be stated in the beginning, that F 3rry and Dexter cattle are not com- mon in England, nor ar . there many of them in Ireland out- side of the southwestern section. The 1913 volume of the English herd book lists eighteen herds of Kerries and twenty-six of Dexters, these occurring in both England and Ireland. Some of these herds are very small and attract but little attention.

These Irish breeds of cattle are exhibited at several agricultural shows in England and Ireland. The largest and most important displays are made at the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society of England ; the Bath and West of England and Southern Counties Society, and the Royal Counties Agricultural Society, in Eneland, and at the Royal Dublin and the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society shows in Ireland. None of the shows held in England are at perma- nent locations, but are annually held in different locations. This year the writer attended the Royal Counties show, which was held at Portsmouth, in southern England, and the Royal Agricultural Society show, held at Shrewsbury in western England. The iudging at the Roval Counties show was on June 10, and that of the Royal Agricultural on June 30th. The entries at the Royal Counties show w«re comparatively small, and but few persons were present to wit^iess the iudeing. The small size of the exhibit here, as well as at the Roval Agricultural Societv show at Shrews- burv, was in part due to the absence of cattle from Irish herds, these cattle being barred on account of the occur- rence of foot and mouth disease in Ireland. The competi- tion at these two shows was not nearly so strong or as inter- esting among the Kerries as with the Dexters, in fact +he Kerrv show at Portsmouth decidedly lacked in numb<^rs and aualitv. The Dexter show was ouite attractive, esr»e- cially in the female classes. The writer is impressed with

the opinion that the champion Kerry bull at Portsmouth was hardly a credit to the breed, lacking in masculinity and being very upstanding, with a poor middle. The Kerry cow, Minley Mistress, that was first prize and champion at Portsmouth, was third at the Royal at Shrewsbury. She was an extreme dairy type of cow, with very lean head and neck, and somewhat lacking in width at chest, but she had considerable depth of rib, with good capacity both as a feeder, and at the pail, though her udder might be im- proved in its front quarters. Black Child, first at Ports- mouth, a choice little Dexter cow, with beautiful head, capacious body, and shapely udder, was fourth in class at Shrewsbury. Yet the Dexter exhibit was a distinct credit to the breed at the Royal Counties Show, and was most carefully judged.

The Royal Agricultural Society Show at Shrewsbury, when one considers the lack of cattle from Ireland, was a very creditable and interesting exhibit of Kerries and Dexters. Had the twelve entries of Mr. R. Tait Robertson of Ireland been present, as well as cattle of others, the show would have bordered on the sensational. Twenty head of Kerries and thirty-four of Dexters were entered in the com- petition, and most of the cattle were there. Without going into much detail, brief reference must be made to several of the prize winners. The first prize and champion Kerry bull, La Mancha Life Guard, shown by John L. Ames, was a fine specimen of a bull of the breed, showing plenty of sex character, graceful in outline, thin at the withers, strong of back and deep of rib, with well placed legs. This bull shows good quality. This is a well known prize winner, re- ceiving first and reserve championship in 1913 at the Royal Dublin Show, and also being first and champion at the Royal Agricultural Show in 1913 at Bristol. He was bred by Mr. R. Tait Robertson. The Dexter bull, Jack Robin, a four-year-old of unknown breeding, shown by His Majesty the King, was a popular favorite for the premier honors which he received in the Dexter class. He is a very low set, stylish fellow, inclining to the dairy type, with an ex- pressive countenance, an alert disposition, and with a strongly supported back, a deep middle and nice carriage of legs. Cowbridge Prince, shown bv Mr. B. de Bertodano, was a creditable second to Jack Robin. One rarely sees such a beautiful cow as the first prize and champion aged Dexter cow, Harley Coy, shown by Mrs. E. Morant. It is impossible to find imperfections of consequence in this little cow, for she truly is much in little, with plenty of style and quality. An attractive, intelligent head, slender neck, neat-

ly placed shoulders, capacious body, wide and full hind end, beneath which is situated a model udder in form and ca- pacity, with large milk veins and good sized teats, she stands close to the ground on four well-placed legs, a model of what a Dexter cow should be. Later Mr. Robertson purchased this beautiful little cow, and the writer had ample opportu- nity to look her over at Malahide. The general exhibit of both Kerry and Dexter cattle was highly creditable.

In July the writer made a short visit to Ireland, visit- ing the herds of Mr. R. Tait Robertson, of The Hutch, Malahide, near Dublin ; the Duke of Leinster, of Carton, Maynooth ; and Mr. S. J. Brown of Ard Caein, Naas. These herds are all convenient to Dublin, the two latter being in County Kildare, from 20 to 25 miles from the city. Mr. Robertson's herd is about eight miles from Dublin, and con-

Fig. 2. Dexter Cow, Black Child (2003), First in class at Royal

Counties Show at Portsmouth, England, 1914.

Photo by C. S. Plumb.

tains very choice specimens of both Kerries and Dexters. Mr. Robertson is a noted breeder and dealer in these two Irish breeds, as was his father before him. At the time of my visit the champion Dexter cow, Harley Coy, previously referred to, was in Mr. Robertson's possession. He als'j had La Mancha My Mistake, a very fine specimen of a Kerry bull, and a remarkably promising Kerry heifer, each of which may be regarded as fit for the best of company. The little Dexter bull, Home Rule, a first prize winner at Dublin and Cork, was also in this herd. Can Can, a seven- year-old Kerry cow, second in class of fifteen at the Royal Show at Bristol in 1913, was also brought out for inspec-

tion. Mr. Robertson has either bred or brought out many of the best known show cattle, and it is apparent that he is prepared to offer warm competition at future shows.

The Carton herd of the Duke of Leinster at Maynooth consists of about thirty-five Kerry females, these being on pasture at the time of my visit. It was a very uniform herd, that presented an attractive appearance for this very reason of uniformity. Here and there were to be seen indi- vidual cows that had the evidence of being large producers. This is an extensive and very beautiful estate, with good buildings and fine pastures. The herd at Carton offers great future possibilities.

One afternoon was spent in a trip to Ard Caein, the estate of S. J. Brown, Esq., near the attractive town of Naas, about 25 miles from Dublin. Mr, Brown has a num- ber of very choice Kerry cows, including well known prize winners, including Gort Dainty, a Blythwood Bowl winner for the best Kerry or Dexter in milk at the Dublic Dairy Show in 1913. She was also the champion at Belfast in 1913. Mr. Brown, who is an attorney, is greatly interested in the development of the Kerries, as is also his capable manager.

The cattle seen by the writer on the three farms visited in Ireland, were more uniform in character and more at- tractive than he expected to see. The evidences of consti- tutional vigor and of milk production were very apparent. When we consider that almost nothing has been done by the British people to improve these Irish breeds through a study of pedigree and recorded milk and butter fat produc- tion, it is a wonder that they are as good as they appear. The Irish government is doing something now in behalf of these cattle, by buying bulls and placing them out for service in communities. Mr. Brown is the only person that I know of who attempts to keep records of production.

The fact is the Kerry and Dexter breeds are not ser- iously promoted in Ireland, even by the government. Though the Kerry is the native cow of the Island, the peo- ple have sadly neglected it for the Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus. One finds the Shorthorn extremely popular in Ire- land, and commonly seen at most of the Agricultural Society shows, while the native breeds are rated as of minor im- portance.

As yet Kerry and Dexter cattle are not high priced, in comparison with most other breeds. One may purchase at very modest prices. It seems as though importation will be the only method by which many Americans may secure these cattle, because but few females are to be purchased

in this country. Yet the cost will not be prohibitive to peo- ple of modest means, who desire to start with the right kind of a herd.

The v/riter visited the offices of the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society in London, at 19 Bloomsbury Square. The Society publishes a herd book each year, volume four- teen being for 1913. Messrs. Hammond and Craufurd, the efficient secretaries, were most courteous and rendered the Secretary of the American Club most kindly service and attention. In Ireland the Royal Dublin Society publishes a herd book from time to time, but the number of animals registered is small, and no herd book has been published now since 1909. Only animals of registered parentage are registered by the Dublin Society, while the English Society

Fig. o. Kerry Bull, LaMancha My Mistake, owned by

Mr. R. Tait Robertson, The Hutch, Malahide, Ireland.

Photo by C. S. Plumb.

registers animals of unknown parentage, if approved by in- spection. It is to be hoped that the English Society will find it wise to soon limit registration to stock of registered ancestry only. There is ample foundation stock for that purpose. However, the people of Great Britain have some- what different views on that subject from some of their American cousins.

The writer especially wishes to express his apprecia- tion for much kindly attention and hospitality from Mr. R, Tait Robertson through whom his visit to Ireland became a most pleasant and profitable one.

THE DEXTER FOR MILK AND BEEF

The Farmei-'s Gazette of Dublin (May 16, 1914), con- tains the following communication credited to an American correspondent :

"This breed is gaining an increasing number of sup- porters in America as regards milking qualities. Dexters cannot be valued too highly. One cow I have yields regu- larly for several weeks after calving up to 35 pints daily, and gave in her last milking period 650 gallons in seven months when she was within a little over three months of calving again. She is now making another record, having given since 9th March up to 15th December 684 gallons of milk, and is still giving about a gallon a day. Another cow (this one is a very small specimen of the breed, standing about 38 inches high) gives regularly in a period of ten months over 600 gallons. She is a very rich milker and a splendid butter maker, although now eleven years of age.

"These cows have only had the very plainest living, and are by no means exceptions. I noticed that at the 1913 Royal Show in England one of the Dexters yielded 47 ibs. 10 ozs. of milk (about 4% gallons) in 24 hours, while many others of the same breed came very close in amount. This was as much, if not more, than some of the cows of the larger races yielded. This breed does not require nearly as much food to produce a gallon of milk as does, for instance, a Shorthorn. The quality of the milk is also of a high standard. Not only do they milk well, but they are apt fatteners, and their beef is excellent in Quality. So much is their beef in demand at the Smithfield fat stock shows that the butchers are reported as buying all the steers and heifers of this breed that are for sale before the first day of the show is over. Well-fed steers and heifers when between 11/2 and 214 years of age weigh from 6 cwt. to 9 cwt.

"If greater size be required for feeding, a cross with the Aberdeen- Angus will produce just the right kind of beast. Hereford-Dexter and Shorthorn-Dexter make useful crosses for beef, while for milk production the Red Poll- Dexter and Jersey-Dexter are worthy of consideration."

THE FIRST IMPORTATION OF THE KERRY TO AMERICA

Bulletin three of the Club for November, 1912, con- tains an article by the Secretary on The Introduction of the Kerry to America. Since the publication of this bulletin, the author has found in the memoirs of the Pennsylvania

Agricultural Society, published in 1824, a statement by Mr. Reuben Haines of Germantown, Pa., to the effect that he had "imported from Ireland the celebrated Kerry cow." That is the extent of the information, but it makes it appar- ent that at least one Kerry cow was brought to the United States at some time prior to 1824. More information on this point is desired.

KERRY AND DEXTER REGISTRATION BY THE CLUB

The following numbers of Kerry and Dexter cattle have been registered from the beginning of registration up to and including December 31, 1913 :

Kerry males Nos. 1 to 15

Kerry females Nos. 1 to 51

Dexter males - Nos. 1 to 18

Dexter females Nos. 1 to 91

Total __.- -.175

This is not a very large showing, but when we consider how few of these cattle there are in America, it is perhaps as much as might be expected for the length of time the Club has been doing business.

COUNTY KERRY, IRELAND

Quoting from the 1912 edition of the New Inter- national Cyclopaedia, Kerry is a maritime county in the southwest of Ireland, in the province of Munster, bounded north by the estuarj^ of the Shannon, and west by the At- lantic Ocean. Area 1859 square miles. The surface is very rugged, wild and mountainous. Kerry contains the lakes of Killarney. The manufactures are inconsiderable ; oats and butter are the chief exports. The fisheries on the coast are extensive and profitable. Chief towns, Tralee, the county town ; Killarney, Kenmare and Dingle. Population, in 1841, 294,100; in 1901, 165,726.

THE SALE OF LADY GREENALL'S KERRIES

The following from the Live Stock Journal (London) for March 28, 1913, relates the sale of this famous herd. American Kerry breeders will find this information of value for future reference :

The dispersion of Lady Greenall's well known entire herd of Kerry cattle, which has been so distinguished in the show yards for many years, was an event which had been looked forward to with great interest by Kerry breeders,

and the large company which assembled at Walton Hall, Warrington, on Wednesday, March 19th, bore witness to the esteem in which this famous herd was held in the Kerry world. Among those present were Mr. T. Waite, vice president of the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society; Col. Lockhart-Ross, representing the Knight of Kerry ; Mr. Beattie for the Duchess of Newcastle, and representatives of the Marquis of Lansdowne and Viscountess Castlereigh, Capt. Ames, Miss Robertson, Mr. Patrick Trope and Mr. R. Tait-Robertson from Ireland, Mr. Proctor, Mr. Skidmore Ashby, Mr. Trawler, the representative of Capt. Ormrod; Mr. T. W. Hammond, representing the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society, etc. Luncheon was served soon after twelve o'clock, and the auctioneer, Mr. William Bainbridge, lost no time in commencing the sale at one o'clock. The sale

Fig. 4. Kerry Cow, Walton Can-Can. Second prize in class at Royal Society of England Show, 191:'). Photo by C. S. Plumb.

was held in the large riding school, which was a great com- fort to all concerned, the morning being blustery, with occasional showers.

The animals were brought out in ordinary condition, and were a robust, healthy lot, the cows being good milkers and the heifers very promising for the pail. The first lot, Walton Homely, was purchased at $87.50 for the Knight of Kerry. A nice quality heifer and a good milker became the property of Viscountess Castlereigh at $130. The Knight of Kerry secured lots 7 and 8 at $130 and $165, respective- ly, the Duchess of Newcastle obtaining lot 9, Walton

10

Jonquil 2d, a large framed cow with capacious udder, at $175. Capt. Ames was fortunate in getting Walton Fame, a nice type of cow with a good bag, at $180. The "plum" of the sale now came into the ring, Walton Dewdrop, almost an ideal Kerry, with a beautiful head and horns, well sprung barrel, a grand udder, and quite one of the best. This cow, a yielder of over five gallons of milk per day, was greatly admired, and, as the auctioneer naively remarked, "you all know her." Started at $100, the bids ran up mostly by $25 bids to $325 by Mr. Robertson. Mr. Waite, however, would not be denied, and capped it with $350, when she became his property. She goes to augment his well known herd of good milkers, and he is to be congratu- lated on securing such a worthy specimen of the Kerry breed. Her week-old bull calf realized $62.50, being pur- chased for the Duchess of Newcastle.

Interest was centered in Walton Can-Can, a splendid milker, which Mr. Robertson secured ofter some lively bid- ding at $210, and Raherry, another grand milker, which Mr. Waite finally obtained at $250, being hard pressed by Mr. Robertson. The remainder of the females met with a ready demand, Capt. Ames, the Knight of Kerry, Lady Castlereagh and Capt. Ormrod being the principal buyers. The bulls also met with a fair demand.

Sir Gilbert and Lady Greenall, who were present all through the sale, were warmly congratulated on its suc- cess, and many regrets were expressed at the disposal of so fine a herd.

The following were the principal prices and buyers :

COWS AND HEIFERS

Guineas.

Walton Homely, calved 1910. Knight of Kerry IBVz

Walton Hester, calved 1910. Mr. P^att 16

Walton Fenella, calved Feb. 10, 1910. Lady Castlereagh 26

Walton Garnett, calved 1910. R. Tickle 18

Delplimum 18th of Carton, calved March, 1909. Knight of Kerry 26

Walton Feather, calved 1909. Knight of Kerry 33

Walton Jonquil 2d, calved May, 1908. Duchess of Newcastle 35

Walton Fame, calved 1908. Capt. Ames 36

Walton Dewdrop, calved 1906. T. Waite 70

Walton Dewdrop's bull calf by DuvRetmore. Duchess Newcastle 10^

Walton Jonquil, calved May, 1905. Capt. Ames 26

Walton Can-Can, calved 1905. R. Tait-Robertson 42

Raherry, calved April, 1904. T. Waite 50

Maple 4th of Carton, calved March, 1899. Capt. Ames 19

Walton Jonquil 4th, calved Nov., 1910. Knight of Kerry 17

Walton Goodness, calved 1910. Mr. Lister Kaye 15

Walton Peony, calved April, 1910. Dr. Picton ' 18

Walton Glitter, calved 1910. Mr. Knowles 16

Walton Gipsey, calved 1910. Lady Castlereagh 17

Walton Glow, calved 1910. Capt. Ames 21

11

Walton Harpy, calved 1910. R. Tickle 2L

Walton Harvest, calved 1910. Mr. Lista Kaye 18-

Walton Jonquil 6th, calved July, 1911. Duchess of New^castle.... 22

Walton Jonquil 5th, calved June, 1911. Lady Castlereagh 23

Walton Can-Can 3d, calved July, 1911. Capt. Ames 19

Walton Bashful 7th, calved Aug., 1911. Capt. Ames 17

Walton Maple 6th, calved July, 1911. Capt. O.rmrod 17

Walton Jeanie, calved August, 1911. R. Proctor 16

Walton Harebell, calved 1911. Knight of Kerry 16-

Walton Halma, calved 1911. Knight of Kerry 17

Walton Harem, calved 1911. R. Proctor 19

Walton Harmony, calved 1911. Knight of Kerry.. 16

Walton Hasty, calved 1911. Dr. Bond 16

Walton Lanky 2d., calved July, 1912. Capt. Ames 2&

BULLS

Duv Ratmore, calved April, 1910. Knight of Kerry 25

Walton Maeldrum, calved April, 1912. Miss Robertson 20

Walton Ferdinand, calved April, 1912. Lord Lansdow^ne 21

The cows and heifers average 20 pounds, 15 shillings, 6 pence- ($101.12); the bulls, 23 pounds, 2 shillings ($112.49). The total for 52 lots was 1087 pounds, 5 shillings, 6 pence ($5,305.00); average,, 20 pounds, 8 shillings, 2 pence ($99.36).

AN IRISH OPINION OF THE KERRY AND DEXTER FOR HILLY REGIONS

A writer in the Irish Farmer's Gazette, December 7,

1912, gives expression to the following :

Mention having been made of hilly districts, what breeds are most suitable for these? Undoubtedly those hardy little native breeds, the Kerries and Dexters. See them on their native Kerry hills, as nimble as goats and quite as hardy, yet with great udders yielding the best of milk and plenty of it. Round by the gloomy Gap of Dunloe the Kerry peasant women offer the visitor the nourishing- milk of their Kerry cows, and a splendid food it is. Of not half the size and weight of the Shorthorn, and thriving lux- uriantly where a Shorthorn would be a mere bag, of bones in a week, the Kerry gives a large quantity of milk in com- parison, and of first class quality too. At the Dairy Show,, the winners yielded no less than an average of 22 lbs. and 19 lbs. of milk per day a small enough yield compared with some we have seen and giving an average percent- age of 4.86 and 4.0 per cent of butter fat respectively. And likewise is it with the Dexter. For the small farmers of Ireland it would be hard to beat our own little breeds. They are docile and thrifty, and as suited for the black high- lands of Derry and Donegal as for the milder heights of" Mangerton and the Macgillycuddy Reeks.

12

KERRY CATTLE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Farmer's Gazette, May 2, 1914.

A correspondent writes as follows to the Farmer's Ad- vocate, South Africa: "Seeing that your farmers would like to know more about the 'Kerry' cattle, it is with pleas- ure I can furnish you with the following facts. Knowing the country well, I know what a good cow the 'Kerry' is for them. The Kerry cows, once your friends, are always your friends. They milk for seventeen years and more if fed for milkmg, and being extraordinarily hardy, their milk is amazingly nutritious. They roam freely, only being brought in at night, when about to calve or when in milk. They are black in colour, and rather small. It is the cheap-

Fig. 5. Kerry Cow, Minley Mistress (125:^ F. S.) First prize

and Champion Royal Counties Show, Portsmouth,

England, 1914. Photo by C. S. Plumb.

est cow in the world to buy and keep, doing well on poor pasture nd mountain shrub. It has been proved to thrive very wc).- ' Africa. The average price for ordinary Down- calvers<?-'d in calf is £15, 15s., but for stock raising prices vary from £20 to £40 for the best. I understand that the demand has been greater than the supply lately."

THE DEXTER IN AUSTRALIA

In the issue for 31st January last of the Melbourne Leader, says The Farmer's Gazette of April 18, 1914, a tribute is paid to the excellence of the Dexter or, as it is termed, the Dexter-Kerry. The Leader states that the

13

Dexter-Kerry stands out amongst the dairy breeds as un- rivalled in her qualifications as a householder's cow. She is eminently suitable for all classes and for all soils ; an excel- lent milker, a ready fattener, small feeder and capable of thriving in adverse circumstances, of good appearance and with a robust constitution. It has been aptly said of them that "they are equally at home on the hillside as on the rich grass of a large demesne." It can also be claimed for the Dexter-Kerry that crossing with other breeds gives satis- factory results, such as with the Shorthorn where beef is required. The resulting progeny milk well and fatten quickly. The flesh is especially well flavoured, marbled and succulent, and the joints are just the size for a family trade.

Fig. 6. Kerry Cow, Gort Dainty ad (1579). First prize and

winner of Blythwood Bowl, Royal Dublin Society Show,

1913. Mr. S. J. Brown, Naas, Ireland, owner.

Photo by C. S. Plumb.

When crossed with the Channel Island cattle, the results for butter are highly satisfactory.

Adaptability

They have shown marked improvement in Australia, and have acclimatised admirably. Mr. L. L. Ramsay, of Carlingford, in New South Wales, has assembled at his stud a remarkably fine lot of animals. An attractive feature of this breed is their affectionate domesticity, gentleness, in- telligence and aptitude to accommodate themselves in the most contented fashion to any class of conditions or en- vironment. They thrive on any class of food, no matter

14

how varied or coarse; potato peelings or vegetables or lucerne are relished with equal zest. They are the smallest of the dairy breeds ; frequently they do not exceed 40 inches in height, and weigh from 600 to 800 lbs. The udder is unusually well developed and the milk vein large, showing greater capacity as milk producers than other cows in pro- portion to the size of body.

Milking Properties

The milk is rich, averaging 4 per cent, butter fat, and the quantity from such a small animal is surprising ; it is a common occurrence for a cow to yield 3 to 4 gallons daily. A Dexter-Kerry cow is mentioned which gave consistently 14 lbs. butter per week. These little cattle respond well to good feed and attention; they breed with unerring regu- larity and safety, but are somewhat slow in maturing. No other dairy breed possesses such vigour of constitution, power to produce milk under rough to varied conditions, and with such gentle disposition.

AMERICAN OWNERS OF KERRY OR DEXTER CATTLE

The Secretary receives many letters from people who wish the addresses of persons having Kerry or Dexter cat- tle. The following list is complete up to November 1, 1914, of all persons having Kerry or Dexter cattle registered on the books of this club. Correspondence addressed to them will no doubt bring a response.

G. M. Carnochan, New City, New York.

Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky.

Howard Gould, Port Washington, New York.

Cecil D. Gregg, St. Louis, Missouri.

Mrs. Clarence Moore, 723 15th St., Washington, D. C.

Oak Hill Estate, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

F. J. Rodgers, Mills Bldg., San Francisco, California.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, New York.

Albert N. White, Greenfield, New Hampshire.

15

(0 ' '^

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Cluk

Builetin Five - January 1915

-o

INFORMAIION IN REPLY TO CORRESPONDENTS

By the Secretary

Many letters are being received at the office oi the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club, asking for infor- mation on matters connected with these two breeds. The same question is asked in many letters, and, inasmuch as the Secretary is a busy man in matters which do not relate to this Club, this bulletin has been prepared to answer some of the questions asked. If other information is de- sired, the Secretary will furnish it if possible, should further inquiry be made.

KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE ORGANIZATION

In July, 1911, the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club was organized. Mr. G. M. Carnochan, New City, N. Y., was elected President; Mr. C. H. Berry man, Lexington, Ky., Vice-President ; and C. S. Plumb, Columbus, Ohio, Sec- retary-Treasurer. These officers are still serving, January 1, 1915.

MEMI5ERSHIP IN THE CLUB

Any reputable person is eligible to membership in the Club upon payment of ten dollars. On January 1, 1914, the following person;; were members of the Club:

G. M. Carnochan, New City, New York.

Elmendorf F'arm, C. H. Berryman, Mgr., Lexington, Kentucky.

Howard (Jould, Port Washington, New York. * Cecil D. Gregg, St. Louis, Missouri.

Mrs. Clarence Moore, 723 Fifteenth Street, Washing- ton, D. C.

*B. Nason Hamlin, Boston, Massachusetts.

Oak Hill Estate, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

F. J. Rodgers, Mills Bldg., San Francisco, California.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, New York.

Albert N. White, Greenfield, New Hampshire.

*No longer active breeders.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CLUB

The purpose of the Club is to promote the breeding", un- provemerit, registration and transfer of Kerry and Dexter Cattle in America.

IMPORTANT KERRY CHARACTERISTICS

The Kerry is a black breed, with horns, of the distinct- ly dairy type. Mature bulls in breeding condition should! not weigh over 1,000 pounds, and cov/s should not weigh, over 900 pounds. This is one of the smallest dairy breeds.. These cattle have not been generally improved, but not- Withstanding this, there are numerous cows that produce considerable yields of milk, which tests about four per cenb, fat. No official tests of the breed have been made in Amer- ica. Mr. R. Tait Robertson, a noted Irish breeder, states; that there are many instances of cows producing up to 20 and 22 quarts of milk per day. The cow, Babraham Belle,, in England, produced about 10,000 pounds of milk in a year, while Red Rose, after calving on December 20, in the year 1893, gave up to the following September, about 12,000 pounds of milk.

IMPORTANT DEXTER CHARACTERISTICS

The Dexter is a distinct breed from the Kerry, though perhaps an offshoot from it. The Dexter is usually a deep black color, but reds occur, and are registered as such. Dexter horns are not usually quite as upstanding as are those of the Kerry. The Dexter is one of the very smallest breeds of cattle, a height of 38 or 40 inches being common. The bulls should not weigh over 900 pounds, and the cows not over 800 pounds. In Europe this is a dual purpose breed, and steers well fattened make beef of a very choice Quality, for Vv^hich special classes £re provided at Irish and English shows. The Dexter produces a comparatively large yield of milk that tests about four per cent. fat. There are no official Dexter records in America, but Mr, Howard Gould has herd records of over 8,000 pounds of milk in a year for certain cows. In 1913, at the Royal Agricultural Society Show, one Dexter cow produced 47 pounds, ten ounces of milk in a day.

WHICH IS BEST FOR AMERICA, KERRY OR DEXTER?

From the standpoint of milk production, the Kerry is probably the best suited for dairy purposes. A herd care- fully selected and bred, should be very profitable. The Dexter no doubt will yield a large milk supply, considering its size. This breed has been considerably exploited by people who know but little about it, and their sensational articles in the newspapers and agricultural press, have

caused many people to expect more than conditions justiry. Either or.e of these breeds, properly developed in America, should attract attention of a favorable naturs. Tiie Dexter is essentially a novelty, but where wuJ selected, of the profit- able sort.

HOW HARDY ARE THESE CATTLE?

These are among the most hardy cattle in the world. They originated in Ireland, and have been developed under conditions where food is often hard to get, where the win- ters are wet and cold, and where the shelter of stables is the exception and not the rule. The Kerry has been known as "the poor man's cow" in Ireland for miany years. These cattle will, no doubt, adapt them.selves to a wide range of conditions. Numerous inquiries have come in from Alaska and Florida, asking for information on adaptability. The probabilities are that either Kerry or Dexter will do well in these sections. Herds are now doing well on both the At- lantic and Pacific coasts, as well as in the Mississippi Valley.

WHERE CAN THESE CATTLE BE BOUGHT?

There are but few cattle of either breed in America, and females are not easily to be purchased. Probably there are not 500 cattle all told of both breeds in America. Cor- respondence may be directed to members of the Club, as given on page one. Messrs. Carnochan, Elmcndorf Farm, Oak Hill Estate, Rodgers, Stevens, and White have herds of Kerries, Dexters are bred by Elmendorf, Howard Gould, Mrs. Moore, and Mr. Gregg. The latter has recently sold his herd to Mr. Adolph Busch of St. Louis, Mo. Corres- pondence directed to the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society, 19 Bloomsbury Square, London, or to the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland, will no doubt secure the names of reliable breeders in England and Ireland. With- out doubt, in future many of these cattle will be imported from these countries.

WHAT PRICE MUST ONE PAY FOR THESE CATTLE?

So few of these cattle have changed hands in America, it is im.rossible to specify v/hat one should pay for individ- uals. Probably fairly good individuals may be bought for around $200 per head. The choicer show animals will bring special prices, all depending on individual merit and other factors unnecessary to mention. At the dispersal sale of the herd of Kerries of Sir Gilbert and Lady Greenall in England in 19L3, the cows and heifers averaged a bit under $100.00 each, and the bulls $11 2.-50. The highest price paid was $350 for an eight-year-old cow. Persons desiring to pur- chase, are recommended to correspond with members o'' the Club.

SECURE REGISTRY AND TRANSFER CERTIFICATES

WHEN BUYING

No one purchasing Kerry or Dexter cattle in America can afford to purchase stock not registered in the American Kerry and Dexter Cat!. 3 Club, for this is the only Associa- tion on this continent engaged in promoting the purity of these two breeds. All cattle imported must be registered in either the English or Irish herd books. The cost for reg- istration in America is one dollar for Club members and t¥/o dollars for non-members. Transfer fees, if within 90 days of sale, are 25 cents for members and 50 cents for non- members. If one is seriously engaged in breeding these cattle, it can be easily seen that it will pay to have member- ship in the Club. Be sure to get papers for each animal v/hen buying.

IS THERE AN ATTRACTIVE FUTURE FOR THESE

CATTLE IN AMERICA?

In the opinion of the Se2retary, both Kerry and Dexter cattle are breeds of distinct merit. The writer has seen beautiful herds in Ireland, that certainly have great possi- bilities for production. With systematic improvement, these cattle offer a most attractive future in the way of profitable production. As a novelty and family cow, noth- ing compares in interest with the little Dexter. In the European shows, these little cows, with their really large udders, attract great attention.

PUBLICATIONS OF THIS CLUB

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club has thua far published five bulletins, including this one. No. 1 was r ■Jjlished in 0 -tober, 1911; No. 2 in March, 1912: No. 3 in November, 1912 ; and No. 4 in November, 1914. These bul- letins contain a variety of literature concerning both Kerry and Dexter, with illustrations of both breeds. Only a lim- ited num.ber of copies of back bulletins are left for circula- tion, but these will be sent on request. For further infor- m.ation, address,

C. S. PLUMB, Secretary, American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club,

Columbus, Ohio.

V ^

,■I„H^^H■■^■I■■^^H'^••^4'•H~HH'•^^•^I^^H^^I^a■^^a■^I■■^■l■^'I^a^■^^^■^'^■^^^■^■l"

®Itr Atttpriratt Knt^

Btxtn (Hattb OIlub

+

J.

+

+

+

I Bulletin Six

+

+ +

t

+

February, 1917

Fig. 1. Dexter Cow GoRT Sunbeam 5th 114(2335).

Owned by Elmendorf Farm. Photo by courtesy of

Mr. J. B. McNulty.

KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE AS PRODUCERS OF MILK AND BUTTER FAT

■1,.1,.I,.H"I-I-H"H"I"I"1-1' I..i..|,.i.,;„i„i,.i..H„| ,1 l..l..|,.l .i,.i ,1 .lMl..i„i„i,.|„|,.|,.|..|.g

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club

A Statement.

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club was organ- ized in July, 1911, through correspondence only. No meet- ings of the breeders have ever been held in America. Mr. G. M. Carnochan, New City, New York, was elected Presi- dent; Mr. C. H. Berryman, Lexington, Kentucky, Vice President, and C. S. Plumb, Columbus, Ohio, Secretary- Treasurer. A club membership fee of ten dollars was adopted, and up to January 1, 1917, thirteen persons have paid membership fees into the Club treasury, as follows :

August A. Busch, St. Louis, Missouri. *G. M. Carnochan, New City, New York.

Elmendorf Farm, C. H. Berryman, Manager, Lexing- ton, Kentucky.

Howard Gould, Port Washington, New York. *Cecil D. Gregg, St. Louis, Missouri. *B. Nason Hamlin, Boston, Massachusetts.

Miss Gladys Ingalls, Hot Springs, Virginia. *Mrs. Clarence Moore, Washington, D. C. *Oak Hill Estate, Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

C. S. Plumb, Columbus. Ohio. *F. J. Rodgers, San Francisco, California.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, New York. *Albert N. White, Greenfield, New Hampshire.

Since the organization of the Club many changes have taken place in the membership. Mr. Carnochan died in 1916, and a number of the members have disposed of their interests in these cattle. A star (*) has been placed against the names of those no longer owning herds of these cattle. Of the above members, only Elmendorf Farm and Messrs. Gould and Stevens of the active breeders, have shown any willingness to sell females, and as a result but few have been sold. Part of the herds disposed of by mem- bers have never been transferred on the books of the Club.

A personal word by the Secretary here seems necessary. The organization of the Club was undertaken by him on request of the late Mr. J. E. Wing, who had been solicited by British friends to organize Kerry and Dexter interests in America. Correspondence resulted in interesting the half dozen or so breeders in this country, articles of associa- tion and rules for registration and transfer adopted, and officers selected. The undersigned became Secretary-Treas- urer in order to promote what seemd to him a worthy cause. There could be no financial compensation for services ren- dered, worth serious consideration, in view of the very small number of Kerry and Dexter cattle in America. It may not be inappropriate to state here that the undersigned is

Fig. 2. Dexter Cow GORT Hilda 7th 161 (2387). Owned by Elmendorf Farm. Photo by courtesy of Mr. J. B. McNulty.

Professor of Animal Husbandry in the College of Agricul- ture of the Ohio State University, and his work in behalf of these Irish breeds of cattle has been one of friendly inter- est, without regard to the value of his time or service. It is his desire that the Club increase in numbers and strength, and that he may be succeeded by some one who is sincerely interested in promoting the welfare of these interesting Irish cattle. Mr. Carnochan had ta'ken much interest in the organization of the Club, and gave generously of his time and service in promoting its work until ill-health prevented. In his death the Club lost a valued friend.

C. S. Plumb, Secretary-Treasurer. Jarmary, 1917.

KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE AS PRODUCERS OF

MILK AND BUTTER FAT.

By C. S. Plumb, Secretary-Treasurer.

In considering Kerry and Dexter cattle as producers of milk and butter fat, several important facts must be empha- sized. These cattle originated in Southwestern Ireland, where the Kerry has been known for many, many years as the native breed. The people of Ireland have attempted very little in the way of improvement, and almost no records of production are kept by the owners of cattle in that country. In other countries than Ire- land there are only a few scattered herds of these

Fig. 3. Dexter Cow Harley Coy (1655) and Mr. R. Tait Robertson, owner. A noted prize winner in Ireland and England.

cattle. In England are a few excellent herds, but the owners report no continuous records. In America there are probably not over 500 head of Kerry and Dexter cattle all told, many of which are not in milk or are not females. So far as the writer is aware, no official testing of a Kerry or Dexter cow has yet been reported by an agricultural college or experiment station in any country. It has seemed singular that the Irish people have made no greater efforts to improve their native breeds.

Sources of information as to the producing capacity of Kerry and Dexter have come from various statements through the agricultural press, and from a few herds where records of production have been kept. Through the cour- tesy of Mr. C. H. Berryman, manager, and Mr. J. B. Mc- Nulty, dairyman, the writer is able to present a number of records from the herd at Elmendorf Farm. This is the largest Kerry and Dexter herd in America, and furnishes information of special importance and interest.

MILK AND BUTTER FAT RECORDS OF KERRY COWS AT ELMENDORF

FARM.

NAME OF COW

YEAR 1 No. TESTED \iili

YIELD OF

fit^o

Calrea

MILK FAT

La Mancha Mav 36 (1214)

1 1 1913-14 1 325 i 6103.9

1914-10 1 307 1 4751.6

1914-15 1 307 1 4,S14.S

269. S 1 4.4 1$3.S 1 3.7 177.0 1 3.9

1906 1906

1906 1907 1907

La Mancha Poll 34 (1231)

La Mancha Moll 40 (1316)

La Mancha Doris 4.5 (1207)

La Mancha Dainty Girl 42 (1203...

1913-14 i 356 1914 1 216

1

1 6031.6

1 3S85.9

Fig. 4. Kerry Cow LaMancha Doris 45 (1207). Owned by Elmendorf Farm. Photo by Mr. J. B. McNulty.

Four of the above records cover most of the year of lac- tation, and one falls far short. For small cattle, a yield of over 6,000 pounds of milk is an excellent showing. Fat

records of two of the cows were not furnished, but the other three range from 3.7 to 4.4 per cent, with the best total fat record of 269.8 pounds.

MILK AND BUTTER FAT RECORDS OF DEXTER COWS AT ELMEN-

DORF FARM.

1 NAME OF COW

YEAR TESTED

No. Days Milked

YIELD OF

Fal%

Calved

MILK FAT

Gort Daisy 4th 105 [2394]

1914-15

1913-14

1914-15

1914

1914

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913 14

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913-14

1913 14

1913-14

289 290 292 263 254 300 288 315 258 358 256 323 315 342 272 333 261 273 263

5193.8 4621.4 4413.5 3884.7 3655.1 5392.7 5374.7 5033.8 4588.5 4457.7 4033.0 4005.1 3792.6 3750.7 3674.4 3460.0 3228.4 2869.5 2791.7

207.3

181.4 169.8 168.7 137.6

4.

4.

4.

4.4

3.7

1910 1909 1907 1908 1910 1909 1908 1910 1908 1911 1910 1909 1911 1908 1909 1909 1909 1909 1910

Gort Hilda 7th 161 [2387]

Gort Sunbeam 5th 114 [2335]

Gort Peep 3d 30 [2332]

Gort Beauty 6th 119 [2427]

Gort Love 4th 29 [2384]

Duv Rosy 120 [2445]

Gort Clara 2d 150 [2420]

Gort Sunbeam 9th 174 [2482]

Gort Florrie 5th 60 [2393]

Bishopscourt Ivv 37 [2408]

Gort Woodvine 6th 176 [2483]

Gort Bee 4th 148 [2385]

La Mancha Modesty 56 [1777]

Gort Sunray 2d 36

Duv Mary Lee 2d 35 [2405]

Duv \orrv 5S [2346]

Gort I'.eauty 5t'i 121 [2430]

Four of the above Dexter cows have records of slightly- above 5,000 pounds of milk each, in periods of time ranging from 288 to 315 days. Five Dexter cows have butter-fat records ranging from 137.6 pounds for 254 days, up to 207.3 pounds for 289 days. The milk shows a butter-fat test of four per cent. No fat record is given for fourteen of the cows, these not having been furnished. The smallest ave- rage daily milk yield of any of the nineteen cows was 10.3 pounds for Gort Sunray 2d. and the largest for Gort Love 4th, that produced a daily average of 18.6 pounds for 288 days.

From the standpoint of our improved dairy breeds, these yields are not notable. However, as the records of the small-

est breed in America, that has never been carefully bred for milk production, these the first published records of the kind, are of interest and importance. One factor of interest here is that these little cows are noted for economy of production, and while we have no figures on that point, Messrs. Berryman and McNulty have expressed the opinion to the writer that these Irish cattle on the basis of food consumption were very economical producers of milk and butterfat.

Dexter Cow Records at Castlegould Estate.

Milk and butterfat records of Dexter cows have been kept at the Castlegould estate of Mr. Howard Gould, Port Wash- ington, New York, for some years. The following records are furnished by the herd manager, Mr. W. C. Baikie :

Name Cow. Year. Yield. Fat Test.

Slane Clara 3 1911 9046 lbs. 4.26%

1912 7113 lbs. 4.15%

1913 6996 lbs. 5.37%

1914 6104 lbs. 4.76%

Kingswood Courtly Girl 9 1911 5634 lbs. 5.20%

" 1912 4968 lbs. 5.82%

" " " 1913 4884 lbs. 5.35%

" 1914 6298 lbs. 5.08%

In 1914 Slane Clara was 14 years of age, and Kingswood Courtly Girl was 9 years of age.

In 1910, in the Castlegould herd, five Dexter cows made the following records:

Yield. Milk Testing

Cow 1 7349 lbs. 4.3% Fat.

Cow 2 8268 lbs. 4.0% Fat.

Cow 3 6127 lbs. 3.9% Fat.

Cow 4 6507 lbs. 4.4% Fat.

Cov/ 5 5235 lbs. 4.1% Fat.

Test of Kerry Cow "Bognut of Waddington" 49.

The Kerry cow Bognut of Waddington 49, owned by the Ohio State University, calved in 1907, dropped a calf on Dec. 12, 1912, and was given a seven day test commencing Jan. 14. Her record, which is essentially official, was as follows :

8

Date. Milk Yield. Fat Yield.

Jan. 14 30.6 lbs. 1.22.3 lbs.

Jan. 15 32.5 lbs. 1.374 lbs.

Jan. 16 31.6 lbs. 1.264 lbs.

Jan. 17 31.4 lbs. 1.349 lbs.

Jan. 18 31.2 lbs. 1.225 lbs.

Jan. 19 30.2 lbs. 1.201 lbs.

Jan. 20 - 26.5 lbs. 1.087 lbs.

Total yield 214.0 lbs. 8.723 lbs.

During the year 1913 Bognut of Waddington produced 6,261 pounds of milk in the University Herd. Fat tests were made weekly during the period of lactation, the per cent ranging from 4.0 to 5.6. This cow became a non- breeder and was sold to the butcher.

SOME ENGLISH KERRY RECORDS. Records at Babraham Hall.

For some years Kerry and Dexter cattle were kept at Babraham Hall, near Cambridge, England. While manager

Fig. 5. KiNGSwooD Courtly Girl, 7 (1151). First prize aged cow and champion Dexter female at the New York State Fair, 1912. Owned and exhibited by Howard Gould.

9

of the estate, Mr. F. N. Webb sent the writer a considerable number of records made in the herd, of which the following are given here as of interest :

Name Cow. Yield Milk. No. Days. Year.

Babaham Belle 6504 lbs. 297 1890-91

5952 lbs. 282 1891-92

6764 lbs. 289 1892-93

Blackberry II 6879 lbs. 290 1890-91

6166ilbs. 308 1891-92

6400 lbs. 272 1892-93

6733Ubs. 329 1893-94

Lesbia 6449 lbs. 298 1890-91

67991 lbs. 322 1893-94

6246 lbs. 273 1894-95

Black Bess 69432 lbs. 1894-95

" 5943* lbs. 1895-96

Bumble Bee 6282 lbs. 317 1890-91

Barbara 62251 lbs. 305 1890-91

Bridesmaid 6259i lbs. .330 1891-92

Briony 6103 lbs. 301 1894-95

Basingstoke 66941 lbs. 266 1895-96

Fig. 6. Dexter Cow GORT Daisy 4th, JOo [2394]. Owned by EJmendorf Farm. Photo by courtesy of Mr. J. B. McNulty

James Long on the Kerry For Milk and Butter.

Prof. James Long is generally recognized in England as an authority on dairy cattle and dairying. He for years held the position of Professor of Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, and is an agricultural writer of distinction. The following is a quotation from an article by him in the Agricultural Gazette (London) of August 21, 1905:

10

"If we take the milking trials at the National Dairy Show at Islington, and travel over a number of years, we find that in one year eight Kerries averaged 36 pounds, or more than 31/2 gallons of milk per day, this milk containing 3 1-3 per cent of fat. In another year twelve Kerries averaged 251/2 pounds of milk per day, this milk containing the large proportion of 4 1-3 per cent of fat, while the solids not fat reached 9.2 per cent. Again, in a third year, seven Kerries averaged 331/2 pounds of milk, containing 3.69 per cent af fat. In two other years the averages of ten cows in each year were 271/4 pounds of milk and 33 pounds of milk, the fat percentage being in one case 4.36, and in the other 4.26 ; while in every instance but the first-named the solids not fat exceeded 9 per cent. In the first place, I would notice that taking the whole series the Kerries very nearly approached 3^4 gallons of milk per day, while in three diff'erent years thirty-two cows gave milk exceeding 41/4 per cent of fat, which practically means that although some of the ani- mals must have yielded less, others probably reached nearly or quite 5 per cent. Here, then, is material for building up a strain or herd of deep and at the same time rich milkers. Surely the Kerry is worth supporting under such conditions. The figures point to possibilities which are great, while quite apart from the fact that good prices are now paid for selected stock, the size is such that the Kerry is practically placed within the reach of the smallest and poorest of cow keepers.

I am afraid the data with regard to butter production is not so prolific, but in one year at the London Dairy Show two Kerries averaged 1 pound 7% ounces, the butter ratio being almost as good as that of the average Jersey, for it was only 21.28, that is to say, a pound of butter was pro- duced from slightly more than 2 gallons of milk, whereas in five years 126 Jerseys yielded an average of 1 pound 10 14 ounces of butter, showing a ratio of 19.15. This remark is

Fig. 7. Rear view, GoRT

Daisy 4th 105. Photo by

Mr. J. B. McNulty.

11

made, not to depreciate the splendid powers of the Jersey, but to show the relative capacity of the Kerry. If we go fur- ther and see what has been accomplished by individual cows, we find that Babraham Belle, the property of Mr. Adeane, produced some 1100 gallons of milk in a year, while we are told by Mr. Tait-Robertson, who has evidently inher- ited the passion for the Kerry entertained by his late father, that many instances are on record of yields of 20 to 22 quarts per day."

Kerry Records at the English Royal.

Each year at the show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England comparative trials are held of the different breeds, and attract much attention. In 1914, Mr. John L. Ames contributed to The Field (July 25) an article discuss- ing the milking competition at Shrewsbury, with the spe- cial purpose of calling attention to the position of the Kerry in this contest.

Fig. 8. Dexter Cow La Mancha Modesty 56 [1777;. Owned by Elmendorf Farm. Photo by courtesy of Mr J. B. McNulty.

"Being particularly interested in Kerry cows myself," writes Mr. Ames, "I feel that it is only right that their capabilities as milkers and their great value as dairy cattle should be brought to the notice of everyone who keeps cows for home use. For the convenience of your readers, I ven-

12

ture to give the full conditions of the Royal Show milk-yield classes. The competition lasts twenty-four hours. One point is given for every 1 pound of milk ; one point is given for every completed ten days since calving, deducting the first forty days ; maximum points for lactation, twelve ; four points are given for every 1 per cent of fat shown on an average of the percentages of fat found in the two milk- ings; fractions of pounds of milk, percentages of fat, and incomplete periods of less than ten days to be worked out in decimals and added to the total points.

Here all recognized breeds of dairy covv's meet on an equal footing; no al- lowances are made for weight or for food consumed, and though the various prizes are confined to each breed, the conditions are the same for all. If we take the average number of points ob- tained by the prize winners of each breed, the order of the breeds them- selves appear as follows: First, Lincoln Red, 83.93 points ; second. South Devon, 76.29 points; third. Shorthorn, 75.71 points; fourth. Red Poll, 73.57 points; fifth, Jersey, 72.75 points ; sixth, Devon, 67.15 points; seventh, Guernsey, 67.07 points; eighth, Kerry, 66.06 points; ninth, Holstein, 65.1 points; tenth, Ayrshire, 58.58 points; eleventh, Longhorn, 58.32 points; twelfth, Dexter, 50.95 points.

A Kerry cow, as everyone knows, is a small animal, and an exceptionally small eater, and when this characteristic, combined with her great hardiness and her capacity for roughing it are taken into consideration, it should go a long way towards her reputation, not necessarily as a fancy animal, but as a good, useful, homely cow. The Kerry is, in a way, the oldest breed of cattle known (they are men- tioned, I am told, in the fourth century), and it is the only breed of cattle native to Ireland. Its origin lies in obscur- ity, nevertheless; it is only quite lately that Kerries have been brought into prominence as dairy cattle. Great efforts are being made, and will be made, by the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society to improve them still further.

Fig. 9. Rear view La

Mancha Modesty 56.

Photo by Mr. J. B. McNulty.

13

Of the seven breeds of cattle which appear above the Kerry in this competition, it must be remembered that five of them i .e., the Lincoln Red, South Devon, Shorthorn, Red Poll and Devon are all animals of great size, some of them, if not all, being double the weight of a Kerry, and con- sequently their consumption of food is in all probability in the same proportion; but their yield of milk and butter is by no means so very much greater. The Jersey is still un- equaled by the Kerry, but this is hardly to be wondered at, considering the time and trouble that have been spent on

^^^

irf

H^HH

yU

■f

EHI

^^^IHvli

mimLM'^JIi "^l^i^^^^^^ii^

EBEL""^* * ^^H

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^^>'^

■lilillllllHiHHHi^HHHiGir^^^^Smsl^H^B

Fig. 10. The cow on the left is KiNGSWooD CoURTLY GiRL 7 (1151), first prize cow over 5 years; the cow on the right is Castlegould Duchess 14, first prize cow 3 to 5 years old at the New York State Fair 1912. Kingswood Courtly Girl in 1914 produced 6298 pounds of milk averaging 5.08 percent fat.

the breed to bring it to such a state of perfection ; but the Jersey is far from suitable for all agricultural conditions, to say nothing of climate, and she would starve where a

u

Kerry would thrive. The Guernsey has beaten the Kerry by only one point. But it is in the two great dairy breeds that come below the Kerry that we see the greatest triumph. That she should prove herself superior to breeds with the reputation for milk and butter of the Holstein and the Ayr- shire is an achievement to be proud of.

The first, second and third prize cows in the Kerry class are all foundation stock cows ; that is to say, they were bred no one knows where and no one knows how, but have been accepted for the herd book purely on their merits. If cows are to be found like this, bred at random, to give over 50 pounds of rich milk in a day, what a foundation there is here upon which to build up a breed of dairy cattle, if proper steps are taken by breeders and breeding operations are carried out in a scientific way."

WEIGHTS OF DEXTER CATTLE.

The Dexter has found considerable favor among many people on account of its small size. Unfortunately the size has received too great relative attention from many who have become interested in the breed, to the neglect of more important qualities. However, small size is a special fea- ture of the breed, and must be so regarded. The scale of points as adopted by the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society, specifies that the bulls should not exceed 900 pounds hve weight and the cows 800 pounds. At the writer's sug- gestion, Mr. Baikie of Castlegould kindly weighed several of the Dexters in Mr. Gould's herd, and in 1916 furnished the following figures :

Castlegould Carson 23, bull, aged 2 years, weight 720 lbs. Kingswood Courtly Girl 9, cow, aged 11 years, weight 700 lbs. Castlegould Maree 75, cow, aged 4 years, weight 680 lbs. Castlegould Bluebell 73, cow, aged 4 years, weight 590 lbs. Castlegould Emeline 100, cow, aged 3, weight 600 lbs.

The Castlegould herd is of very superior merit, and is the oldest registered in America. The above figures may be regarded as representing desirable weights.

15

REQUESTS FOR LITERATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHS.

Many requests come to the office of the Secretary for printed matter and photographs. Requests for literature are always complied with, unless in cases where quantities are requested that involve expense te the Club that the treasury cannot meet. The srrtall membership of the Club, and the few cattle in America, must necessarily give evi- dence of a very small financial showing. Under the circum- stances the Club is unable to furnish photographs free, or to send many duplicate bulletins to meet demands from agricultural colleges and schools. If this were done, our funds for printing would soon be exhausted. The Secre- tary, however, will gladly render any service possible in promoting the welfare of Kerry and Dexter, and will an- swer correspondence to the best advantage possible.

Fig. 11. Kerry cow Walton Can Can (93-^.). Second in class at Royal Agricultural Society of Frglar.d Shew, 1913. Photo by C. S. Plumb.

16

rb

f

®t|f Atttrrtran IC^rr^

anil i^xt^r (HattU OIlub

Bulletin Seven

May, 1918

DINAH (2017) F. S., First Prize Dexter Cow and Winner of the Challenge Cup, Royal Agricultural Society of England Show, Manchester, 1916. Dinah produced 44 pounds of milk in one day, winning first prize in milking competition. Owned and exhibited by His Majesty, King George V.

Cul b^ courtesy of Hoard's Dairx^man.

7C JC '*'*

Organization; Standards of Excellence; List of

Breeders; List of Club Bulletins; Herd

Books; Financial Statement

for 1917; Miscellaneous.

^

The Organization of the American Kerry and Dexter

Cattle Club.

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club was organ- ized in July 1911. During the year 1910-11, the present Secretary-Treasurer engaged in correspondence with all owners of these cattle in the United States whose addresses were available. Less than twenty herds were located, most of which were small. The feeling was pronounced that a Club should be formed, and as a result of a mail ballot, in July, 1911, the Club was organized. Mr. G. M. Carnochan, of New City, New York, was elected President; Mr. C. H. Berryman, Manager of Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Ky., was elected Vice-President, and C. S. Plumb, of Columbus, Ohio, was elected Secretary-Treasurer. An Executive Committee consisting of the above officers and Mr. Maurice Molloy, Port Washington, New York, and Mr. B. Nason Hamlin, of Boston, were elected as members of the Execu- tive Committee. These officers were elected to serve until the membership could elect in formal meetings rafher than by correspondence. Since the Club was organized Mr. Carnochan has died, and Messrs. Molloy and Hamlin have severed their relations with the Club, having gone out of cattle-raising.

At the time of the election of the officers, the following Articles of Association were adopted :

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

of the

AMERICAN KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE CLUB

Organization

1. This organization shall be called the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club.

Membership

2. The membership fees shall be ten dollars ($10.00).

state Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations shall be regarded as honorary members, without voting priv- ileges, but with membership fees.

Purpose

3. The, purpose of this club shall be to promote the breeding of pure-bred Kerry or Dexter cattle in America, by dissemination of information concerning these cattle; keeping a record of registration and transfer of individual pure-bred animals; publishing a herd registry or other information of importance; and protecting the integrity of Kerry and Dexter pedigrees in America so far as possible.

Foundation Stock

1. (a) Any animal imported from Ireland or England up to January 1st, 1912, from ancestry registered in the Royal Dublin Society's Kerry and Dexter Herd Book or in the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society Herd Book, by which a connected registration record may be shown, (b) Also up to January 1st, 1912, any animal of Kerry or Dexter breeding, from unregistered ancestry in America, that properly certified evidence shows to have come or de- scended from stock of pure Kerry or Dexter breeding, im- ported from Ireland or England, (c) Also up to January 1st, 1912, of any animal imported from Ireland or England of Kerry or Dexter breeding, of which certified evidence is given, yet not from registered ancestry.

Pedigree Stock

After January 1st, 1912, no cattle shall be registered by this Club, excepting those of registered ancestry in Amer- ica, or those imported, that are registered in the Royal Dublin or English Kerry and Dexter Societies' books. To be eligible for registry by this Club, the sire and dam must have been registered and made a matter of record on the books.

Registration and Transfer

6. Kerry Cattle will be kept classified by themselves, and

4

Dexter cat Me likewise, each foraiing an independent group. The product of a cross of Kerry and Dexter blood shall be regarded as a cros.s-bred and ineligible for registration.

7. Printed forms for registration and transfer will be furnished by the Secretary free of charge. All applications for registry of imported animals must be accompanied by Government certificates of importation and ooyfi"flr.ofoo fy^^^^ the Secretary of either the Royal Dublin or English registry societies, unless as provided for under Foundation Stock.

Registry and Transfer Fees

8. The regular fee for registration to members of the Club shall be one dollar ($1.00). Non-members' fees, two dollars ($2.00). All registrations of cattle calved after January 1st, 1912, shall be made within 365 days of calv- ing, or be subject to an excess penalty for registration of five dollars additional to the usual fee.

9. The transfer fee for members shall be twenty-five cents, for non-members, fifty cents, and the seller shall pay cost of transfer certificate, and furnish the same to buyer unless otherwise agreed upon. All fees for transfer will be doubled, if delayed filing with the Secretary over ninety days following the sale.

10. The Secretary is directed to issue no certificates or

transfers until the payments for the same have been re- ceived at the office of the Club. Exception to this rule, however, may be made in the case of State or Government institutions, where authority to furnish registry certificate or transfer has been officially made.

Publications

11. This Club shall publish from time to time, as funds may permit, a herd register, and any literature of an educa- tional character that will aid in placing the merits of Kerry and Dexter cattle before the public.

THE EXCESS PENALTY FOR DEL^iYED REGISTRATION

By reference to Rule 8 of the Articles of Association, it will be noted that an excess fee of five dollars ($5.00) is charged on each animal not registered prior to 366 days of age. This rule is in harmony with similar rules in other cctttio ccoooiQ-tiono. Its purpose is to promote prompt at- tention to making report and record of animals, for the opinion prevails among registry associations, that extended delay in registration is often associated with incomplete information, due to forgetfulness or carelessness. Years ago the American Hereford Cattle Association passed a rule barring all animals from future registration if not registered before the expiration of one year of birth. The American Guernsey Cattle Club, for example, now charges a fee of ten dollars for registration of animals over twelve months old. The Secretary of the American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club believes the five dollar penalty is fair, and urges all persons doing business with the Club to promptly attend to all registrations.

REGARDING TRANSFERS

It is common custom among men selling registered live- stock, to furnish the buyer with a certificate of transfer, showing that the animals sold have been transferred on the records of the Club, from the seller to the buyer. Pur- chasers should be interested in securing transfer papers, otherwise they may have trouble in future, if they desire to register their cattle. Note should be made that by Rule 9 the fees are doubled, if delayed over ninety days.

NEW DEXTER STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE

The Standards of Excellence, or Scales of Points, for Dexter bulls and cows used by breeders up to this time are the ones adopted by the Royal Dublin Society, and by the English Society. The Secretary of this Club feels that the British scales of points do not go into enough detail, and so has drawn up the following, which were submitted to

American breeders for criticism and recommended for adop- tion for use in this country. In view of the fact that all the comment has been favorable to their use, they are here presented as substitutes for the British standards. The Secretary would appreciate any criticisms or comments that might lead to their improvement:

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR DEXTER BULL

Points

Head Short, broad between eyes, muzzle wide, nostrils

well defined; eyes prominent, bright, placid; ears

medium size ; horns strong, not long, springing well

from the head, with an inward and upward curve,

with black tips 10

Neck Short, moderately thick, arched, neatly at- tached, free of excess throatiness and dewlap 5

Breast Full, carried well forward, with neat brisket—. 5

Shoulders Fine, wide, well laid in, yet strong- 5

Chest Deep and filling out well behind shoulders 10

Back Withers only moderately thick, top line level and

well carried ; loin wide and strong 10

Ribs Well sprung, long, giving pronounced thickness

and depth of body 10

Hindquarters From hips back, wide, long, level;

thighs medium thick, long, well apart 13

Tail Well set on line with back, long, refined 2

Legs Short, strong, not crooked at knees nor hocks,

walking easily and true 5

Skin Mellow, elastic, not too thin; hair thick, fine on

body, coarser on poll and chest 5

Color Solid deep black, or solid red. A slight amount of white on generative organs may not disqualify

but is undesirable .._ _.._ 5

Weight At maturity, not to exceed 800 lbs. in breed- ing condition ___ 5

General Appearance Stylish of carriage, animated, well balanced proportions and of strong sex char- acter 10

Total for perfection.... 100

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR DEXTER COW

Points

Head Short, broad between eyes; muzzle wide; eyes

prominent, bright, placid; ears fine; nostrils well

defined; horns of moderate length, not coarse,

springing well from the head with an inward and

upward curve, white with black tips 7

Neck Of medium length and thickness, not too beefy, refined, yet strong about lower jaw and throat,

slight amount dewlap 3

Breast Full, carried well forward, with neat brisket 4

Shoulders Fine, wide, well laid in, smooth 3

Chest Deep, and well filled out behind the shoulders 10 Back Withers only moderately thick, top line level and well carried; loin wide and strong; hips wide

apart 7

Ribs Well sprung, long, giving great relative depth of

body and digestive capacity 7

Hindquarter Wide, long, level, thighs medium thick,

long, well apart 10

Tail Neatly attached on line of back, long, refined 1

Legs Short, strong, not crooked at knees and hocks,

walking easily and true .— 4

Udder Thick and elastic extending up well behind and also forward, the floor of the udder being comparatively level and not deeply grooved; teats of good size and form, well apart, neatly placed.— 15

Milk Veins Long, tortuous, large, with large wells 5

Skin Mellow, elastic, not too thin; hair thick, silky,

fine 4

Color Solid deep black or solid red, excepting a slight amount of white permissible upon the udder and

under line of belly as far forward as the navel 5

Weight At maturity not to exceed 700 lbs. in breeding

condition __. 5

General Appearance: Stylish carriage, animated, a beautiful little cow of relatively great digestive and producing capacity 10

Total for perfection... 100

BREEDERS OF KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE.

August A. Busch, St. Louis, Missouri.

Original purchase of entire Dexter herd of C. D. Gregg of St. Louis in 1914, and later purchases of Elmendorf Farm in 1915.

Elmendorf Farm, Mr. C. H. Berryman, Mgr., Lexington, Kentucky.

Original purchase made in Ireland in 1909. A large number of Kerry and Dexter cattle imported.

Daniel Guggenheim, Hempstead House, Port Washington, Long Island, New York.

In 1917 purchased the entire Howard Gould herd of Dexters and the Castlegould Estate, which he owned.

James J. Hill Estate, Gladstone, Minnesota.

Original purchase of Dexters imported in 1914, fol- lowed by purchases from Mrs. Clarence Moore of Wash- ington and Elmendorf Farm.

James N. Hill, 20 Nassau St., New York City.

Original purchase of Dexters in 1917 from Elmendorf Farm.

E. F. Simms, Houston, Texas.

Original purchase of Dexters in 1917 from Elmendorf Farm.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, New York.

A breeder of Kerry cattle since prior to the organiza- tion of the club.

There are a number of other very small herds of Dex- ter cattle in the United States, but not on a commercial basis. Several herds have also been established and have later been disposed of to persons that have not been inter- ested to keep their cattle registered.

PRICES FOR KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE.

Considerable correspondence is addressed the Club in- quiring as to prices for these cattle. There are very few females in the United States that are for sale, but the prices are not high. Fairly good individuals can perhaps be bought for around $200 per head, but much depends on individual merit and breeding.

9

THE CLUB BULLETINS.

The following bulletins have been published since the or- ganization of the Club. These contain special articles and information regarding the cattle and work of the Club:

Bulletin 1 October, 1911, 12 pages, 3 illustrations.

Bulletin 2 March, 1912, 16 pages, 5 illustrations.

Bulletin 3 November, 1912, 12 pages, 2 illustrations.

Bulletin 4 November, 1914, 16 pages, 6 illustrations.

Bulletin 5 January, 1915, 4 pages.

Bulletin 6 February, 1917, 16 pages, 11 illustrations.

KEKRY AND DEXTER CATTLE SOCIETY OF IRELAND

On July 14, 1917, there was organized at Killarney, Ire- land, the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society of Ireland. The following were agreed upon as the objects of the Society:

(1) To maintain the purity and promote the breeding of Kerry and Dexter cattle in Ireland.

(2) To collect, verify and publish information regard- ing the capabilities of these native breeds of cattle.

(3) To confer with the Department of Agriculture and the Royal Dublin Society in regard to matters relating to the breeds.

(4) To do all such things as may be considered advis- able by the Society to encourage the breeding of Kerry and Dexter cattle in Ireland and to promote the interests of owners and breeders. Mr. Stephen Brown, Ard Caein, Naas, was elected President ; Mr. David Rattray, Ballybunion, Vica President, and Mr. Robert Heggie, Valencia Island, Hon- orary Secretary and Treasurer.

KERRY AND DEXTER HERD BOOKS.

The Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland, attends to the registration of Kerry and Dexter cattle, and thus far has published eighteen volumes of herd books. Vol. XVIII, appearing early in 1918.

The English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society was founded in 1892, and, up to 1915 inclusive, had published sixteen herd books. This society has its headquarters at 19 Bloomsbury Square, London, W. C, England.

10

LIBERTY BONDS.

Although the income of the Club is very small, the Sec- retary purchased one bond of the value of $100 as a slight expression of the attitude of the Club in promoting the wel- fare of the Allied cause in the Great War.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE CLUB. For the Year 1917.

Receipts.

Cash on hand Jan. 1.. ...$332.34

Received for advertising 20.00

Membership fees 20.00

Registry and transfer fees... 52.25

$424.59

Expenditures.

Printing ..$ 94.06

Postage 11.92

Refund A. A. Busch on fees 15.00

Liberty bond 100.00

$220.98

Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1918 $203.61

C. S. PLUMB, Secretary-Treasurer.

11

The Kerry Cow. JC

It's in Connacht or in Munster that yourself might travel wide,

And be asking all the herds you'd meet along the country- side;

But you'd never meet a one could show the likes of her till now,

Where she's graizng in a Leinster field my little Kerry Cow.

If herself went to the cattle fairs she's put all cows to shame, For the finest poets of the land would meet to sing her fame ; And the young girls would be asking leave to stroke her

satin coat. They'd be praising and caressing her, and calling her a dote.

There are red cows that's contrary, and there's white cows

quare an' wild, But my Kerry Cow is biddable an' gentle as a child. You might rare up kings and heroes on the lovely milk she

yields, For she's fit to foster generals to fight on battlefields.

In the histories they'll be making they've a right to put her

name. With the horse of Troy and Oisin's hounds and other beasts

of fame ; And the painters will be painting her beneath the hawthorn

bough, Where's she grazing on the good green grass my little

Kerry Cow.

W. M. LETTS, in the Spectator.

12

r

^

®I|0 Amrriran K^rrg

mix ipxtfr (ilattb (dlub

Bulletin Eight

September, 1919

CASTLELOUGH NORA A fine type of Kerry cow, and a Royal Society of England winner

scarry an& i^xt^r Jt^mfi

\.

Address :

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club

Columbus, Ohio

KERRY CATTLE

The Kerry breed of cattle of the true type is but little understood in America, and there are very few Kerries in this country. Americans interested in Irish cattle have as a rule selected the Dexter rather than the Kerry. Tne small size of the Dexter has been the great factor in interesting- most people. The Kerry, being larger and more angular in form, has not seemed to attract. However, in Ireland one sees very beautiful Kerry cows, possessing attractive dairy cattle conformation and breed character. In the opinion of the Secretary, a herd of Kerry cattle might be developed in America that would demonstrate that the cows of this breed not only produce large yields of milk, but at a com- paratively low cost. Prof. Wilson, of Ireland, describes the Kerry cow as "elegant and deer-like, with slender limbs and body, light at the shoulder, and deeper in the hindquarters. Her head is Hght and graceful, with a sharp nose, bright eyes and ears ; her horns are white with black tips, not thick at the base, spreading outwards and ascending towards the points, which frequently turn inwards. She is nearly al- ways black, sometimes with a little white on the underline, but an occasional red Kerry is born for the same reason that red calves are born in nearly every black breed."

The Kerry has a larger bone than the Dexter, which accounts for its larger size. Kerry cattle in Ireland produce from 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of milk during a period of lacta- tion, and yields up to 10,000 pounds have been given. The milk tests about four per cent fat or more. In cases it is almost equally rich with that from the Jersey. In official tests conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, Castlelough Mona 3659 in 43 weeks produced 7,007 lbs. milk testing 3.6 per cent, Castlelough Olive 3665 in 40 weeks produced 1.189 lbs. milk testing 4.0 per cent, Sheen XVI 3908 in 40 weeks produced 7,297 lbs. of milk testing 3.8 per cent fat, and Kilmorna Queen I 3410 in 45 weeks produced 8,124 pounds of milk testing 3.7 per cent. It is to be hoped that some good ex- amples of Kerry cattle may be brought to America and a strong herd established in this country.

SALES OF KERRIES AND DEXTERS IN BRITAIN

On May 28, 1919, Hammond & Craufurd held a sale oi Kerry and Dexter cattle at Hatfield, England. This included the entire herd of Kerries of Capt. J. L. Ames, as well as Dexters and Kerries consigned by other breeders. The sale was a notable one, the demand was spirited, and the prices broke the record. The Kerry cow Coquet Dabchick, owned by Capt. Ames, was sold to the Wellington Live Stock Com- pany for $575, the top of the sale. The same company pur- chased of Capt. Ames the cow Coquet Eve for $435. The average for 28 Kerries was about $235, and eight Dexters averaged slightly over $100.

According to The Farmers' Gazette (Dublin), seven- teen Kerry cattle, the property of Maj. R. G. O'Callaghan, Brackenstown, Swords, Ireland, were sold June 17 for an average price of over $105. The highest price paid was $200 by Mr. O'Meara for the cow La Mancha Eva. Another cow. La Mancha Maude, sold to G. F. Wilson for $185. The bull Brackenstown Bryan brought $155.

REGISTER OF MERIT FOR KERRY AND DEXTER

CATTLE

At a meeting of the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society of Ireland, June 1, 1918, at Killarney, it was voted to re- quest the Royal Dublin Society to establish the following classification, and publish a special register of the same an- nually in the herd book.

Class A. Cows that have been passed on inspection as being of good Kerry or Dexter type and conformation, and having in a period not exceeding 45 weeks made an authen- ticated yield of at least 4,500 lbs. of milk, with an average butter fat percentage of not less than 3.5.

Class B. Female progeny of cows accepted for Class A, got by a bull entered in the Royal Dublin Society Herd Book.

Class C. Female progeny of cows accepted for Class B, got by a bull entered in the Royal Dublin Society Herd Book. Animals in this class to be eligible for entry in the herd book proper.

At the annual meeting of the Society held June 11, 1919, at Dublin, it was voted "to issue Certificates of Merit in respect to cows and heifers attaining a high standard as to quality and quantity of milk."

The official testing of dairy cattle is now recognized as most essential, if breed progress is to be made.

In the United States testing is now extensively con- ducted among the Jersey, Holstein-Friesian, Guernsey and Ayrshire breeds of cattle. Present day prices for animals among these breeds, are largely based on the official test records shown in the pedigrees. Hence it is very essential that Kerry and Dexter cows be tested in America, that a premium may be paid for the better producers. The Secre- tary on request will take pleasure in arranging with cattle owners for official testing, under the supervision of agricul- tural experiment stations or colleges of agriculture.

BRITISH HERD BOOKS

In 1918 the Royal Dublin Society published Volume XVII of the Kerry and Dexter Herd Book, consisting of 86 pages. The entries comprise 322 Kerries and 80 Dexters, a total of 402. The herd book numbers of Kerry cows and heifers extend from 3936 to 4182, and bulls from 797 to 871. Dexter cows and heifers number from 2591 to 2658, and bulls from 616 to 627. Volumes I to XVII can be obtained at $1.25 each from the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland.

In 1919 the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society published Volume XIX for 1918 of the Herd Book, number- ing 88 pages. The herd book contains 138 entries of Kerries and 119 of Dexters, a total of 257 head. Kerry cows and heifers number from 2099 to 2204, and bulls from 393 to 424. Dexter females number from 2446 to 2544, and bulls from 620 to 639. Volumes of the herd book may be obtained at $1.25 each, by addressing the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society, 19 Bloomsbury Square, London W. C, Eng- land. Foreign postage will be extra.

AMERICAN REGISTRATION RECORD TO JAN. 1, 1919

Sixteen Kerry bulls and 61 females have been regis- tered, a total of 77 head. Fifty-two Dexter bulls have been

registered and 240 females, a total of 292 Dexters, and a grand total of 369 of both breeds.

REQUESTS FOR BREED LITERATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHS

The Secretary receives many letters from a variety of sources, requesting literature in quantity, and photographs of Kerry or Dexter cattle. Many of these requests come from agricultural colleges or schools, the literature being for distribution among the students. It is quite impossible for the club to furnish this material when involving much expense. The small membership of the club and the very limited number of cattle of these two breeds in America naturally means very restricted income for meeting ex- penses. Until more cattle are available for sale, and more business transacted by the club, publicity funds will be available in but a small way. However the Secretary will take special pleasure in providing information desired when- ever possible.

PUBLICATIONS OF THIS CLUB

The American Kerry and Dexter Cattle Club has thus far published eight bulletins, including this one. No. 1 was published in October, 1911; No. 2, March, 1912; No. 3, November, 1912; No. 4, November, 1914; No. 5, January, 1915; No. 6, February, 1917; No. 7, May, 1918; No. 8, August, 1919. These bulletins contain a variety of litera- ture concerning both Kerry and Dexter, with illustrations of each breed. A limited supply of some of the back num- bers is still available for distribution.

BRITISH KERRY AND DEXTER LITERATURE

In 1917 the English Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society published an interesting pamphlet of eight pages, contain- ing "a short description of Kerry and Dexter cattle, show- ing their origin, general adaptability and economical value as dairy and beef producers." This is for free distribution.

In 1919 the Kerry and Dexter Cattle Society of Ireland published a very attractive 28-page booklet on the Kerry and

Dexter Herds of Ireland, and containing a map of Ireland and sixteen half-page pictures of noted cattle.

The Secretary of the Club has a limited number of copies of these pamphlets for free distribution.

BREEDERS OF KERRY AND DEXTER CATTLE

There are but few Kerries and Dexters for sale in America. The herds generally are small and the owners have but few females to sell. Correspondence with any of the following is recommended. Those marked with a star (*) have the largest herds.

*Hempstead House Herd, Port Washington, Long Island, New York. Daniel Guggenheim, owner; W. C. Baikie, manager. The oldest Dexter herd under continuous management in the country, established by Howard Gould by importations commencing in 1905. In 1917 this herd, then known as the Castlegould herd, was sold to Daniel Guggenheim, who changed the name to Hempstead House herd.

'■'August A. Busch, St. Louis, Missouri. This Dexter herd was established with the purchase in 1914 of the cattle of C. D. Gregg of St. Louis. In 1915 purchases were made of Elmendorf Farm, Lexington, Kentucky. The Elmerfdorf herd was dispersed in 1917.

*North Oaks Herd, Gladstone, Minnesota. Mrs. James J. Hill, owner; H. C. Lawton, Supt. Breeder of Dexters. Original purchase of Dexters imported in 1914, followed by purchase from Mrs. Clarence Moore of Washington, D. C, and Elmendorf Farm.

, B?g Tree Herd. James N. Hill, owner, 20 Nassau St., New York City. A small herd of Dexters, original purchase having been made in 1917 from Elmendorf Farm.

Xalapa Herd, Paris, Kentucky. A small herd of Dexters was purchased from Elmendorf Farm in 1917.

Mountain View Herd, Benson, Vermont. William R. Bush, owner. A small herd of Dexters purchased in 1917 from Elmendorf Farm.

Ophir Herd, Purchase, New York. Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, owner. A small herd of both Dexters and Kerrles.

E. F. Simms, Houston, Texas. Original purchase of Dexters in 1917 from Elmendorf Farm.

F. E. Stevens, Glens Falls, New York. A breeder of Kerry cattle since prior to the organization of the club.

Persons purchasing cattle are advised to buy only ani- mals registered upon the books of this club, or eligible to registration, and should secure transfers from the sellers properly prepared on blank forms furnished by the Secretary.