The Jersey is a cattle breed from the island of Jersey, famous for producing milk with relatively high butterfat.
Jersey cattle developed on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel. The breed is usually light brown, although shades range from gray to nearly black. Jerseys are smaller than many specialized dairy breeds and are valued for efficient milk production.
Their milk is especially useful for butter, cream, and some cheeses because it commonly contains more butterfat and protein than milk from many other dairy breeds. Exact percentages vary with genetics, feed, health, and stage of lactation, so the breed should not be treated as having one fixed milk composition.
The Jersey is distinct from the Guernsey, another Channel Island breed. Both are known for rich milk, but they developed on different islands and are separate breeds. Jersey cattle are now kept in dairy herds worldwide.