Use of Jersey Cattle: Very popular with homesteaders, Jerseys account for about 7 percent of all cows in the United States. This smaller sized dairy breed is respected for producing a fairly high quantity of milk relative to their size (about 16,000 pounds per year) that is particularly rich in butterfat (4.9 percent) and protein. Though their total production is lower than that of Holsteins, their net return (or dollars of profit per cow per year) is higher thanks to their lower feed requirements and their ability to stay productive for many years.