Kuhlman: Black and White Ayrshires 



315 



BLACK AND WHITE AYRSHIRE PRIZE WINNER 



Heifer exhibited at the Kilmarnock (Scotland) show, 1914. As will be noticed, her markings 

 are quite like those of a typical Holstein. Black and white are almost unknown colors 

 in an American Ayrshire, but this prejudice against them is not founded on reason. (Fig. 

 12.) 



Scotland showed that many of the 

 leading breeders of pure bred Ayrshires 

 have one or more black and white 

 animals in their herds. It is claimed 

 by many that they are better producers 

 than the white, brown, or brown and 

 white animals. Some also claim that a 

 black and white Ayrshire cow from a 

 black and white dam, always produces 

 calves of that color even if bred to a 

 bull that is white and brown. 



A count of several hundred animals in 

 the local markets showed that from 

 3 to 4% of the grade Ayrshires were 

 black and white. Grades of this color 

 are considered good producers and 



often bring a higher price on the market 

 than grades of the more usual color. 

 Some breeders who do not admit the 

 superior milking qualities of the black 

 and white cows, keep them for "good 

 luck" as they say or for the contrast 

 they add to the color of the herd. 



A study of several voltmies of the 

 herd book, brought out some interesting 

 details. Volume 8 of the Ayrshire 

 Herd Book, published in 1885, is the 

 first one in which any mention is made 

 of the color of the individual animals 

 recorded in it and in Voltmie 9 this 

 record is not complete, for the color 

 of about one hundred cows entered in it 



