42 GUIDE TO DAIRYING IN SOUTH AFRICA 



prove disappointing when they are not given the 

 best of feed and attention. 



The Ayrshire, 



as its name implies, comes from Scotland. 

 These cows are regarded generally in the British 

 Isles as a real dairy breed. They can thrive on 

 inferior pasture, doing well also on rich soils, 

 although they sometimes lose their milk power and 

 lay on fat. They are a hardy breed, and are very 

 popular in the dairy sections of Canada and Aus- 

 tralia. The cows are not very big and seldom 

 weigh more than 1000 Ibs., but are good deep 

 milkers, 5000 Ibs. of milk per year being a common 

 yield. The milk is somewhat above the average in 

 quality, but not so rich as that of the Jersey. Pro- 

 fessor Woll gives the average fat content of the 

 milk at 375. The cows are not as gentle as the 

 Jersey or Friesland, but are more active, better 

 " rustlers," will live on poorer feed and will find 

 grazing on rougher pastures. They cross well 

 with other breeds. The hind quarters of these 

 cows are broad and deep, forequarters narrow and 

 light, giving the body a wedge-like shape which is 

 regarded as a sure indication of good milking 

 powers. The udder is large, extending well for- 

 ward under the belly and backwards carried well up 

 behind. 



