764 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



or an average of about five pounds of butter per week the 

 year round." 



" Flint " says of the Ayrshires in his work on " Dairy Farm- 

 ing : " " We must conclude that for purely dairy purposes the 

 Ayrshire cow deserves the first place. In consequence of her 

 small, symmetrical, and compact body, combined with a well- 

 formed chest and a capacious stomach, there is little waste, com- 

 paratively speaking, through the respiratory system, while at 

 the same time there is a very complete assimilation of the food, 

 and thus she converts a large proportion of her food into milk. 

 So remarkable is this fact that all dairy farmers who have any 

 experience on the point agree in stating that an Ayrshire cow 

 generally gives a larger return of milk for the food consumed than a 

 cow of any other breed." 



It is claimed by good authority that the milking qualities 

 of the breed have been developed by the selection of bulls of a 

 feminine appearance. While the Ayrshire is pre-eminently a 

 dairy breed, it is conceded that they fatten kindly and profit- 

 ably ; but " Youatt" says of them : " It will be long, perhaps, be- 

 fore they will be favorites with the butchers, for the fifth quar- 

 ter (hide and tallow) will not weigh well in them." Their fat 

 is mingled with the flesh rather than separated in the form of 

 tallow, but this gives a more beautiful appearance to the meat, 

 and should enhance its price. 



"Flint" recommends that they be crossed with the Short- 

 horn, using bulls of the latter breed of superior milking strains, 

 and that this will give improved size and form with little danger 

 of reducing the valuable dairy qualities. 



The Ayrshires in the United States. T can find no 

 record giving dates of their importation, or the names of im- 

 porters, but they have been on irial here for about a half- 

 century, and have been successful. It is a fact, however, that 

 they do not yield so large a quantity of milk in this country as 

 in Scotland. The chief reason for this is found in the difference 

 of climate. Ayrshire has a moist climate an almost continuous 

 drizzle of rains or moisture pervading it making fresh green 

 pastures ; a cooler and more equable temperature in summer, 



