142 ON THE AYRSHIKE BREED OF CATTLE. 



ing the quantities of milk given by individual cattle. Aiton, in 

 his " Survey," says that somo cows produce 5 to 6 gallons per 

 day for a time. Long after ("inmitting this statement to paper, 

 he was led to believe that he iiad underrated the quantity, as he 

 was informed that many cattle yield 6 to 7 gallons per day for 

 six or eight weeks ; but these, he remarks, are extraordinary 

 returns. Several, when in their best plight and well fed, will 

 yield 4 gallons per day for three months, and produce a total of 

 800 to 900 gallons per cow. As an average, 600 gallons per cow 

 for the year has been mentioned, but on the poorer farms the 

 average yield falls far short of this, and cannot be more than 480 

 or 500 gallons. 



There are various methods of converting the produce of the 

 dairy into cash, dependent chiefly upon the extent of the farm, 

 the quality of the soil, the circumstances of the dairyman, and 

 the proximity, or otherwise, to a town. The owners of small 

 dairies, if possible, dispose of their produce as new milk in a 

 neighbouring town ; the occupiers of the largest class of dairies 

 generally go in for cheese-making ; while the produce of medium- 

 sized dairies is sold as milk, converted into butter, or made into 

 cheese ; sometimes a combination of two or more of the above 

 methods is observed, as circumstances render desirable. 



The following details show the comparative advantages of each 

 system, as well as the actual amount of produce obtained on 

 several dairy farms, names being withheld by desire. 



No. 1 is a dairy of 10 cows. The milk is disposed of daily at 

 lOd. per gallon. The average for 250 days was last year 2^ 

 gallons per cow, giving a yearly total of 625 gallons for each. 

 Value of whole produce for the year, L.26, Os. lOd. About L.4 

 per head spent in artificial food. 



No. 2 is a dairy of 16 cows. Average for 240 days, 9 quarts 

 per cow daily. Value of produce, L.22, 10s. A little over L.3 

 spent on extra food. 



No. 3, dairy of 24 cows. Milk made into butter. Average 

 per cow throughout season, nearly 5i lbs. per week, or an 

 aggregate of 220 lbs. per cow. This, calculated at Is. 3d. per 

 lb., with L.3, 10s. for milk, brings the amount per cow up to 

 L.17, 5s. Cash spent on food, about L.2, 15s. per head. 



No. 4, dairy of 14 cows. Milk also made into butter. Aver- 

 age, 240 lbs. for year. This, estimated at Is. 4d. per lb., as 

 advised, makes L.16. Butter-milk valued at L.4, making the 

 total sum L.20. Feeding substances purchased in, L.3, 4s. 8d. 

 per cow. 



No. 5, dairy of 75 cows. Produce made into Cheddar cheese. 

 4 cwt. average per cow. Sold at 70s. per cwt., or a total per cow 

 of L.14. No estimate of milk or whey given. 



^Vhere the milk can be disposed of daily as obtained, the 



