1916] AYRSHIRE CATTLE. 15 



The first publication of Ayrshire records was a private enter- 

 prise and known as the "Bragg" records. These records were in- 

 complete and lacked sufficient authorative information. Only two 

 small volumes of the "Bragg" edition were published. 



The first Ayrshire Record book of the Ayrshire Breeders^ 

 Association was published in 1875, there being then forty breeders 

 of record in Connecticut, but only one of that number is shown on 

 the records as a breeder at the present time, he being Dudley 

 Wells, of the original firm of S. M. and D. Wells of Wethersfield, 

 whose herd was established in 1863 and which represents the 

 second oldest herd in the United States of an unbroken period of 

 breeding. 



Early private milk records of herds and individual cows,, 

 especially throughout New England, indicate that the foundation* 

 cows possessed dairy qualities of high order, and those of Con- 

 necticut were among the best. 



Mysie 2nd — 1634 — born March 17, 1869, was one of the early 

 sensational cows of the breed. She was bred and maintained in 

 the Wells herd, during her entire life of nineteen years. Her 

 yearly milk record in 1878 was 13,468 pounds, in 1879 was 11,534»- 

 and 1880, 10,123 pounds, dropping a calf each year. Beginning 

 in April, 1881, for four months and seven days she gave 7,539 

 pounds. During August and Septem.ber, being at the fair, her 

 milk was not weighed. Her butter yield for seven days was 21i 

 pounds. Her highest daily yield was 80 pounds of milk. In Octo- 

 ber she gave 1,315 pounds and in February, 499 pounds. She 

 calved again the following April, within the twelve months of her 

 yearly milking period. With a reasonable estimate of her yield, 

 during the months her milk was not weighed, her yield during the 

 fourth year of her test would nearly equal that of the first year. 



Connecticut Ayrshires have been successful to a marked 

 degree in the show rings of New England and at great expositions. 

 The highest honors were awarded them at the Philadelphia Cen- 

 tennial in 1876, the International Dairy Show at Madison Square 

 Garden, New York, in 1879, the Universal Exposition at St. Louis, 

 in 1894 and at the largest New England shows of recent dates. 



Connecticut Ayrshires have taken an important part in the 

 foundation of herds in other parts of the country. Shipments 

 from here have been made to various states, from Maine to the 



