144 DAIRY-COW. 



The breed most cultivated for the dairy in the British 

 Islands is the Ayrshire Breed, derived from the county of 

 Ayr, but found in many of the dairy districts of Scotland 

 and of Ireland. "As now cultivated and improved," says 

 Professor Low, " it is well defined in its characters. The in- 

 dividuals are of medium size, of various colors, and have 

 short horns. Their limbs are delicate, their foreheads nar- 

 row, their shoulders thin, and their fore-quarters light. This is 

 a form which is valued in the female, as indicating a disposi- 

 tion to secrete milk ; but it does not correspond with the form 

 of an animal which indicates a tendency to grow to great size, 

 and fatten readily." These cows do not enjoy in the richest 

 dairy districts of England all the reputation they possess in 

 their own country; but the breed has been much improved 

 within the last fifty years. 



The Short-horned Durham Breed has been extensively 

 imported into the United States ; it is considered as combin- 

 ing a larger number of valuable properties than any of the 

 large breeds. 



The Alderney Breed have short crumpled horns, are of 

 small size, and ungraceful forms. They are from the Nor- 

 man Islands of the British Channel. The Island of Jersey 

 has the palm for the superiority of her race. The inhab- 

 itants, whose riches they are, guard the purity of the breed 

 by interdicting the importation of foreign animals. These 

 animals are not strong, and require a temperate climate ; but 

 the milk of the female is excellent in color and quality. 

 Professor Low says of this breed: "Considerable numbers 

 of the cows are imported into the southern counties of Eng- 

 land, where they are kept for the luxury of the opulent, or 

 partially employed in the regular dairies, to give richness to 

 the milk." 



The North Devon Breed of England are admirable for 

 active labor, and the milk of the female is rich, and under 

 favorable circumstances abundant. 



