Alderney cattle

Alderney cattle

The Alderney was a breed of dairy cattle originating from the British Channel Island of Alderney, though no longer found on the island. The pure breed is now extinct, though hybrids still exist.

Description

Pure-breed Alderneys were smaller, more slender boned animals than the cattle of the other Channel Islands and in some ways they were more deer-like than bovine. They were docile animals and would even follow children passively to or from pastures. Their milk was copious and produced very rich butter.

Extinction

Most of the pure-breed Alderney cattle were removed from the island to Guernsey in the summer of 1940, because the island was then occupied by the Germans (during World War 2) and it was difficult for the few remaining islanders to milk them. On Guernsey, the cattle were interbred with local breeds. The few pure-breed cattle remaining on Alderney were killed and eaten by the Germans in 1944.

In literature

The Alderney is mentioned in a verse of A. A. Milne's poem "The King's Breakfast":

:"The Dairymaid":"She curtsied,":"And went and told":"The Alderney:"::"Don't forget the butter for"::"The Royal slice of bread.":"The Alderney":"Said sleepily:"::"You'd better tell"::"His Majesty"::"That many people nowadays"::"Like marmalade"::"Instead."

External links

* [http://www.alderneysociety.org/aldcow.html/ Alderney Society page]
* [http://www.cipostcard.co.nz/aycow62.jpgUncaptioned old photograph]


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  • Alderney — For the suburb, see Alderney, Dorset. For the breed of cattle, see Alderney cattle. Aoeur gny Aurigny Alderney …   Wikipedia

  • Alderney — Al|der|ney n 1.) one of the ↑Channel Islands between England and France 2.) a breed of cow kept for milk ▪ Alderney cattle …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Alderney — Al der*ney, n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called {Jersey cattle}. See {Jersey}, 3. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Alderney — Alderney1 [ôl′dər nē] n. pl. Alderneys any of a breed of small dairy cattle originally from ALDERNEY2 Alderney2 [ôl′dər nē] northernmost of the Channel Islands: 3 sq mi (8 sq km); pop. 2,000 …   English World dictionary

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  • Alderney — /ˈɔldəni/ (say awlduhnee) noun one of a breed of cattle originally reared in the Channel Islands, as Jersey or Guernsey cattle. {from Alderney, the northernmost of the Channel Islands in the English Channel} …  

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  • alderney — ˈȯldə(r)nē, ni noun ( s) Etymology: from Alderney, one of the Channel islands in Guernsey bailiwick, England 1. usually capitalized : an animal of any Channel island breed of cattle (as a Jersey or a Guernsey) 2. often capitalized : a moderate… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Alderney — Al•der•ney [[t]ˈɔl dər ni[/t]] n. 1) geg one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. 1785; 3 sq. mi. (8 sq. km) 2) ahb. any of several breeds of cattle raised orig. in the Channel Islands, as the Jersey or Guernsey …   From formal English to slang

  • Jersey cattle — Alderney Al der*ney, n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called {Jersey cattle}. See {Jersey}, 3. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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