THE DAIRY BREEDS OF CATTLE 293 



Jersey) cross was also introduced into the Ayrshire district 

 at this time. An evidence that the Jersey was used is 

 the small head and slender neck possessed in common by 

 both these breeds. In spite of the lack of historical evi- 

 dence that Jersey cattle were crossed on the old Ayrshire 

 stock, Low concludes that the " Dairy Breed of Ayrshires 

 owes the characteristics which distinguish it from the 

 older race to mixture with the blood races of the continent 

 and of the Dairy Breeds of Alderney." 



From the above, we may rightly infer that the condi- 

 tions which surrounded the foundation of the Ayrshire 

 breed were such that the fittest only could survive. 

 This factor of hardiness was apparently but little dis- 

 turbed, if any, when the Teeswater cross was made. 

 Hardihood has been so closely interwoven with every 

 fiber of the Ayrshires that they are to-day the most hardy 

 of all breeds of dairy cattle, with the possible exception 

 of the Irish Kerry. It is probable that the Teeswater 

 cross eventually increased the milk-producing ability of 

 the Ayrshire. 



What is true of many of our improved breeds of cattle 

 is true, also, of the Ayrshire : that no one breeder stands 

 out prominently from his fellows as the great improver 

 of the breed. The dairy-farmers of Ayr and the adjacent 

 counties worked together for the common purpose of 

 developing a hardy, active race of cattle adapted to the 

 humid climate and sparse hillside pastures, as well as a 

 race that would produce the maximum amount of milk 

 when fed on chaffed straw and roots during the long winters 

 of Scotland. Their success is indicated by the very large 

 number of exportations from Scotland to other countries. 



324. History in America. Ayrshire cattle were first 

 imported into America between 1820 and 1830. Import a- 



