In 1789 the States of Jersey banned the importation of live cattle. Since then selective breeding has led to the creation of a dairy cow famous throughout the world for the high cream content of her milk.

By the late 19th century pure-bred Jersey cattle were being exported all over the world and as demand increased so did prices; In 1860 the price was £16 per head, by 1880 it had risen to £400. Today the world population of pure-bred Jerseys stands at between 5 and
6 million cattle.


The Jersey Cow

Jersey Cow on display at the Jersey Museum


A collection of farming implements, a farming exhibition and restored historical farm buildings can be seen at Hamptonne Country life Museum

The largest set of information on the Jersey Herd in the world is available for viewing at the Jersey Archive . The collection includes 75 volumes of pedigree books and a large number of records of Jersey Cow shows, including an award for the best uddered cow! A further highlight of the exhibition is a chalk drawing by
Thomas Gainsborough.


The Story of Jersey exhibition at the Jersey Museum tells the story of the history of farming in Jersey. Works by some of Jersey's finest artists, including Edmund Blampied and John Le Capelain, form part of Jersey Museum's 2001 art exhibition celebrating the Jersey Cow.


Drawing of Jersey Cow by Gainsborough