GREENWICH, N.Y. — In the United States dairy industry today, there are seven recognized breeds of dairy cow. Did you know that four of these seven breeds trace their roots back to different parts of the United Kingdom? Read on to learn more about the origins of the Milking Shorthorn, the Jersey, the Ayrshire, and the Guernsey. The descendants of these British bovines are an important part of the American dairy industry.
Milking Shorthorn
The modern Milking Shorthorn traces its roots back to the late 1700s and was developed from Teeswater and Durham cattle that originally came from northeastern England. The breed originated in the Tees River Valley in the regions of Durham, York, and Northumberland in England. Unlike other dairy breeds, the Shorthorn was developed to be a “dual purpose breed” meaning they could be used for milk or beef. Much of the early development of the breed is attributed to brothers Robert and Charles Colling. While Robert focused on the Shorthorn’s beef capabilities, Charles’ attention was on the cow’s milking capabilities. In the early 1780s successful breeding had produced superior cattle. Four of Charles Collings’ most successful were named Duchess, Cherry, Strawberry, and Old Favourite. Eventually their breeding led to a bull named Comet who became the first bull to sell for 1,000 guineas at a show in 1810. Thomas Bates of Kirklevington and John Booth of Killesby were other successful breeders of Teeswater cattle from this time, with Bates’ work further developing the cattle’s milking qualities.1
Milking Shorthorns first made their way to the U.S. in 1783 when an importation arrived in Virginia making them one of the earliest milking breeds in America. Early on they were often referred to as “Durhams” because of the area of England from which they came. They were a popular breed amongst early Americans because of their dual purpose and ability to work. Today, the milking Shorthorn is known for its docile nature, good production, and calving ease amongst other traits.2
Jersey
Off the coast of Normandy, France, in the English Channel lies the Isle of Jersey. It is here where the Jersey cattle originated, although it is unclear when or how. Some theories claim that the ancestors of the Jersey came from Africa, while others conjecture that they migrated from India. Another theory suggests that they may have originally been a part of Alpine Brown Swiss or Normandy or Brittany spotted cattle stock. Regardless, through breeding efforts the Jersey cow became distinct on the island and were first brought to England in the 1740s.3
The earliest time Jersey cattle could have been in America was as early as 1657, when George and Susanna Poingdestre along with their children emigrated to what is today Williamsburg, Virginia. On this journey the family brought with them some cows from Mr. Poingdestre’s childhood home on the Isle of Jersey. Jerseys were often mistakenly referred to as “Alderneys.” Amongst the English Channel Islands Alderney was usually the final stop amongst trading vessels. Ships carrying cattle from the Islands to be exported would often list them as coming from the Isle of Alderney since it was the most recent of the Channel Islands they had stopped at. This practice continued for decades with Guernseys also being mistakenly called Alderneys too. By the late 1800s the Jersey breed was established in the United States. The American Jersey Cattle Association was formed in 1868 further solidifying the breeds prominence.4 Today there are still thousands of Jersey cattle on the Isle of Jersey that are purebred, and a ban on cattle imports to the island has been in effect for over 150 years in order to keep only Jersey cattle on the island.5
Ayrshire
The Ayrshire cow was developed in Ayrshire County, Scotland which is located in the southwestern part of the country. The cow had a few aliases including the Cunningham and the Dunlop before the name Ayrshire was settled on. It is not known which cattle breeds were used to develop the Ayrshire, but some believe it is a cross between European or Channel Islands (islands in the English Channel) cattle and cattle native to the Ayr region of Scotland. Gradually the breed’s characteristics were developed and in 1786 the first Ayrshire show was sponsored by the Highland Agricultural Society.6 The cow was an efficient grazer and thrived in the Scottish climate and terrain.7
The first presence of Ayrshires in the U.S. is believed to have occurred in 1822 when H.W. Hills of Windsor, Connecticut acquired some of the breed. The breed became quite popular in New England as farmers there were looking for a cow that could graze the pastures of the rocky New England soils and handle the region’s cold winters. The Ayrshire took well to region as it was in some respects similar to its native Scotland. Today, the breed remains popular in New England and other states in the Northeast, and the breed can be found in parts of the South and Midwest too.8
Guernsey
Not far from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel is the Isle of Guernsey. It is here that the Guernsey cow was first bred. The cow is believed to be a cross of two breeds of French cattle: Norman Brindles from the region of Isigny in Normandy and Froment du Léon from Brittany. It is unclear how these cattle got to the island in the first place. One theory holds that monks that moved to the island from Mont St. Michel in 960 A.D. brought these cattle with them, but it is still not verified.9 The distinct Guernsey breed was recognized around 1700 and later it was deemed illegal to import other kinds of cattle to the island to prevent cross-breeding.10 They became popular in English dairies by the late 18th century.11
Guernseys first came to America in September 1840 when three “Alderney” cows were brought to the port of New York. Later, two heifers and a bull from the Island of Guernsey itself were brought to the United States. From these cows came much of the Guernsey herd that exists in America today. The American Guernsey Cattle Club (now known as the American Guernsey Association) was formed in 1877 to register cattle and promote the growth of the breed in the U.S.12 Guernseys are recognized for their fawn and white coloring, as well the “golden” color of their milk.
While the United States may have declared its independence from Great Britain 246 years ago, the two countries remain linked in many respects. One of these links is found in the heritage of a large portion of America’s dairy cattle.
1 “History of the Shorthorn Breed,” The Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom & Ireland, accessed August 25, 2022, https://shorthorn.uk/the-breed/.
2 Melissa Elischer, “History of dairy cow breeds: Milking Shorthorn,” last modified April 27, 2017, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/history_of_dairy_cow_breeds_milking_shorthorn.
3 Melissa Elischer, “History of dairy cow breeds: Jersey,” last modified January 27, 2016, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/history_of_dairy_cow_breeds_jersey.
4 “To Improve and Promote the Breed,” American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc., accessed August 25, 2022, https://www.usjersey.com/Portals/0/AJCA/2_Docs/History/history1.pdf.
5 Melissa Elischer, “History of dairy cow breeds: Jersey,” last modified January 27, 2016, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/history_of_dairy_cow_breeds_jersey.
6 Melissa Elischer, “History of dairy cow breeds: Ayrshire,” last modified March 24, 2016, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/history_of_dairy_cow_breeds_ayrshire.
7 “Why Ayrshires?,” U.S. Ayrshire Breeders’ Association, accessed August 25, 2022, http://www.usayrshire.com/whyayrshire.html.
8 Ibid.
9 W.G. de L. Luff, “A Short History of the Guernsey Breed,” accessed August 25, 2022, https://www.worldguernseys.org/history.html.
10 “Breed Facts,” English Guernsey Cattle Society, accessed August 25, 2022, https://guernseycattle.com/about/breed-facts/.
11 W.G. de L. Luff, “A Short History of the Guernsey Breed,” accessed August 25, 2022, https://www.worldguernseys.org/history.html.
12 “Guernsey History,” American Guernsey Association, accessed August 25, 2022, https://www.usguernsey.com/copy-of-golden-guernsey.
Chandler Hansen grew up and lives in Easton, NY. He is a graduate of Gordon College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History. He serves as a writer and editor for Morning Ag Clips.
Editor’s note: This article was first published on Aug 25, 2022.
