Kuhlman: Black and White Ayrshires 



321 



M<y ita^.l!lm 



CHAMPION AT THE AYR SHOW 



Howie's Sir Hugh, champion bull at the Ayr show in Scotland in 1914 and 1915. Most of the 

 prominent sires now in use in herds of Ayrshires resemble this bull in being mostly white; 

 but the preference for a predominantly white bull seems to have no sound genetic basis. 

 (Fig. 15.) 



the distribution of the color pattern in 3. John Speir claims that the breed 



the Ayrshire." is of Dutch origin. 



The results of Brody's investigations 4. Professor Wallace thinks it de- 



of the color of the breed are given in the scended from the Bos longifrons. 



following table : 5. Sanson designates it as a hybrid 



Color of Animals Per cent. 



Almost wholly or mostly white 35 . 24 



Equally white and brown 33 . 34 



Almost wholly or mostly brown 25 . 70 



Black or black and white 5.72 



100.00 



As nothing is said about registration breed tracing to the Celtic cattle and 



in this connection, it may be assumed showing certain resemblances to the 



that this tabulation was made without Kerry. 



considering it and it is very probable From a study of the history of the 



that similar results could be obtained in British Isles as well as the skulls and 



many sections of the Ayrshire district, other characteristics of the Ayrshire, 



Among the many theories that are Brody asstmies that the breed is of 



advanced as to the origin of the breed, celtic origin, had been bred pure for 



he enumerates the following : a long time and was brought into 



1. A local theory is that the breed Scotland when the Celts were forced to 

 was imported. withdraw before the Romans and later 



2. Some claim the breed was de- before the Anglo-Saxons. Of course 

 veloped locally. these cattle resembled the present day 



