198 



MILCH CATTLE THE AYRSHIRE 



23rd. The cows got no concentrated food except I Ib. 

 meal daily during June, July, and August. 



of 



A noteworthy record is that of the cow " Polly" (Plate 

 LXVIII.), bred and owned by Robert Thompson, blacksmith, 

 Thornhill, Dumfriesshire; born April 1899; the last calf of 

 " Polly of Auchenhessnane " (5212), when fourteen years old ; 

 sire " Wee Earl's Heir " (3998) ; first when 2 J years old in milk 

 at Nithsdale Agricultural Society's Show, Thornhill, in 1901 ; 

 has borne five living calves without going dry. One month 

 before calving she yields 30 Ibs. of milk, or about half her 

 normal maximum during the three months before receiving the 

 bull. On the "common" pasture in 1905, with no additional 

 feeding, three weeks after calving, she gave 30 Ibs. of milk at 

 6 A.M. and 28 Ibs. at 6 P.M. ; butter-fat, by Gerben's test, 5-4 

 per cent. Her weight after milking was 9 cwts. 2 qrs. 



Ayrshire bullocks feed well after they are three years old, 



