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Jersey cattle
Today, the Jersey breed is the second largest breed of dairy cattle in the world. With its ability to adapt to many kinds of climates, environments and management practices, the Jersey is a cow for all seasons, and for all reasons.
The Jersey cow and its importance in our cultural and economic development - in other words, the animal and the environment that has made it what it is. All living species of animal and plant develop and change over the generations by a process of selection, due to the pressure of environment both natural and man made. The Jersey breed is no exception. It is the product of the Island, its soil, its climate, its people and their history.
The origin of the Jersey breed, as of most breeds is shrouded in obscurity. It is known that in prehistoric times 100,000 years ago Neanderthal man lived in caves like those of La Cotte, St Brelade and La Cotte a Chevre, L’Etacq. Of the animals that he preyed on or who preyed on him some of the largest were the fierce Aurochs, Bos Primigenus, whose modern representative is the Jersey cow. Homo Sapiens replaced Neanderthal man in Europe about 30,000 years ago and was responsible for the remarkable wall paintings in the caves at Lascaux and Les Eysees in the Dordogne, France some 350 miles to the south-east of Jersey. It is obvious from those that he had a special interest in the Aurochs for a great many of the paintings are of bulls and cows. He may even have practiced some cult of worship of the Bull.
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