Jersey

Jerseys come from the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands, where imports were banned from 1789 to keep the breed pure, and that isolation is why they are as uniform as they are.

They are the smallest of the major dairy breeds and the most efficient. A Jersey gives less milk than a Holstein but far richer milk, with the highest butterfat and protein of the common breeds, and she does it while eating less and taking up less space. On a component-priced contract, and for anyone making butter or cheese, that is the whole argument.

They are also fertile, calve easily, and handle heat better than most dairy cattle.

The trade is at both ends of her life. The carcass is small and bull calves are worth little, so beef income is limited. And Jersey bulls have a deserved reputation as the most dangerous of any dairy breed. Do not keep one casually.