DAIRY CATTLE AND THE DAIRY FARM . 101 



States and is a favorite in sections where production of milk for city 

 consumption is the chief industry because the cows give large quantities 

 of good milk of low fat content that can be sold cheap at a profit. The 

 Holstein-Friesians are good cows for patrons selling to creameries and 

 cheese factories that purchase milk by bulk and not on the butterfat 

 basis. Partizans of the breed claim that because of the low fat content 

 of the milk and the small size of the fat globules the milk is especially 

 adapted to infant feeding. 



Admirers of other breeds contend that when the milks thereof are 

 properly diluted they give results in infant feeding that are as satisfactory 

 as those obtained with Holstein milk. 



Ayrshire. The Ayrshire originated in the county of Ayr in southern 

 Scotland. The basal stock was the native cattle of the region but the 

 breed seems to have been evolved by the crossing of many of the best 

 milk-producing breeds. Several authorities instance the use of different 

 cattle by various breeders in improving the breed. The Shorthorn, 

 Dutch, Devon, Channel Island, West Highland and Hereford cattle 

 all are mentioned as having been utilized in developing the Ayrshire. 

 The original marking appears to have been black, but about 1780 red and 

 white became fashionable, later brown and white mottled cattle were 

 preferred and of recent years there has been a craze for white animals 

 with a minimum of red or brown. Ayrshire bulls weigh from 1,400 to 

 2,000 and the cows average 1,000 Ib. The bodies of the animals are 

 capacious, the ribs long and well-sprung while the rump is usually high, 

 broad and long. The uniform well-shaped udders are notable. They 

 are not pendant but the forepart has unusual extension and the rear is 

 carried w^ell up behind. The teats are well-placed but are apt to be 

 inconveniently small for milking. American breeders are endeavoring 

 to overcome this defect. 



Ayrshires were first brought to Canada between 1820 and 1830. 

 The first animals to come into the United States are said to be some that 

 were imported to Connecticut in 1822 but this is not certain, and many 

 regard the Massachusetts importation of 1837 as the first. For a time 

 thereafter importation continued but it dropped off only to be resumed 

 actively in recent years. 



The Ayrshire has always been known as a good milk producer; cows 

 rated as fair specimens of the breed will give 7,500 Ib. of milk a year. 

 The milk is white and tests on the average of 3.8 per cent, butterfat. The 

 fat globules are small and the total solids high. The milk has been called 

 the perfect milk by admirers of the breed, partly because of the propor- 

 tion of fat to solids-not-fat, and is especially recommended by many for 

 infant feeding. For city milk supply the breed is satisfactory as the 

 cows are consistent producers of milk that tests 12.5 per cent, total solids 

 and a trifle under 4 per cent, butterfat. As butter cows, the Ayrshires 



