Fake ‘moos’ in citizenship study guide

Thursday 14 March 2019

The government is being held ac-cow-ntable for out-of-date information about cattle imports to the island contained in the study guide for wannabe Jersey citizens.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has dropped cold, ‘herd’ truths about inaccurate information on Jersey cows contained in the document designed to help prepare those studying for their citizenship test.

Calling out the Jersey Citizenship Supplement for its fake ‘moos’, someone called attention to out-of-date information about the ban on cattle imports to the island.

The 2014 document, which contains everything that those going for their Jersey citizenship need to know for their test, used to read: “The famous Jersey cow has been a ‘protected species’ for the last 200 years. 

“No cattle imports are allowed in order to keep the breed pure, but through exports and husbandry elsewhere, the animal can be found in almost every country in the world.”

Pictured: Jersey cow milk gets a mention in the citizenship study guide, but one reader felt the facts were long since expired.

Although this was true at one point, the author of the FOI request points out that, “in July 2008, the States of Jersey took the historic step of ending the ban on imports, and allowing the import of bull semen from any breed of cattle, although only semen that is genetically pure will enable the resultant progeny to be entered in the Jersey Herd Book. Cows other than Jerseys can now be seen in island fields".

This refers to a decision made by States Members almost 11 years ago to allow international bull semen to be imported into the island.

In relation to their cow-ncern, the author asks who is responsible for the document, “How often is it updated, and has it been checked by local historians?” 

Pictured: The FOI author points out that the citizenship document omits an "historic" States' decision to allow the importation of international bull semen.

The response explains that the document “was introduced in 2005 by the Chief Inspector of Immigration” and both the supplement guide and questions “were introduced with the input from a local historian from the Jersey Museum and have been regularly reviewed".

Fielding the criticism over the cattle import blunder, the response reads: “We are grateful for your note in relation to the cattle imports to Jersey referred to in the supplement guide, which has been overlooked and will now be rectified.”

Now, the supplement has been updated to reflect the historic 2008 vote.