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CHAPTER X 



MILCH CATTLE. THE AYRSHIRE. THE KERRY AND 

 DEXTER, AND THE DUTCH OR " HOLSTEIN." 



Introduction The Ayrshire Habitat Historical Records Cattle 

 Introduced to Improve the Breed The Type early in the Eighteenth 

 Century Milking Records Influence of Soil and Climate Points 

 and their Showyard Values Milk and Butter Yields Bullocks 

 Ayrshires Abroad List of Prominent Breeders Irish Breeds The 

 Kerry The Irish Cottar's Cow Milk Records History of the Breed 

 Breed Societies and Herd Books Weights Fat and Milk 

 Records Points The Dexter Points and Peculiarities Specula- 

 tions as to its Origin Pioneers of Kerry Introduction into England 

 Kerry Crosses with other Breeds Dutch Cattle Position in 

 Europe and America Points Herds in this Country. 



T INTRODUCTION. Though certain strains of cattle 

 -L already described notably the Welsh and the Red 

 Polled breeds are good general-purpose breeds, yet they 

 could not be properly classed among those specifically kept 

 for milk production. We shall find, on the other hand, that 

 some which are distinctly and unmistakably milking breeds 

 are nevertheless capable of producing excellent beef. The 

 Shorthorn occupies a unique position in this connection, as 

 non-pedigree dairy cows of this breed are more numerous, 

 taking the United Kingdom as a whole, than all the cows of 

 the special dairy breeds to be described put together. 



The Ayrshire Breed has come more into prominence in 

 comparatively recent times, although its milking reputation 

 is not new. 



Its natural habitat was Cunningham, or the upper of the 

 three divisions of Ayrshire Carrick, Kyle, and Cunningham 

 occupying that part of the county which lies north of the 

 river Irvine. 



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