uri AFTER X. 



DAIRY CATTLE— THE AYRSHIRES. 



r. THE ANTIQUITY OP AYRSHIRE CATTLE. II. AYRSHIRE ANCESTRY. III. THE 



AYRSHIRE AS A MILKER. IV. QUALITY OP THE MILK. V. MR. YOUATT'S 



OPINION. VI. QUALITY OF THE FLESH. VII. THE AYRSHIRES IN AMERICA. 



VIII. AYRSHIRE POINTS EIGHTY YEARS AGO. IX. THE AYRSHIRE OF TO- 

 DAY. X. POINTS OF AYRSHIRE CATTLE. XI. ESCUTCHEON OR MILK MIRROR. 



XII. THE POINTS SUMMED UP. XIII. THE BODY. XIV. THE SKIN. XV. 



MILK POINTS. XVI. THE HEAD. XVII. THE NECK, BODY AND LIMBS. >■ 



XVIII. IMPORTANCE OF GOOD TEATS. XIX. COLOR, STYLE AND CONDITION. 



I. The Antiquity of Ayrshire Cattle. 



There are few climates better adapted to dairying than Ayrshire, in 

 Scotland, and no other part of Great Britain has so long been noted for 

 its superior milking cows. The climate is moist, with frequent soft rains 

 ■'nd no severely cold weather in winter. The grasses therefore are natu- 

 rally succulent and sweet. 



The origin of the Ayrshire cow is in doubt. In 1733 it is recorded 

 that no such breed existed in Scotland. -Mr. Ro])ertson, writing in 

 1703, credits the introduction of Ayrshire eattle into Scotland, on the 

 authority of Mr. Bruce Campbell, to that Earl of Marchmont who suc- 

 ceeded his title in 1724, and died in 1740, 



II. Ayrshire Ancestry. 



In relation to their origin Mr. Robertson says : From what particular 

 part of the country they came, there a})pears no evidence. My own con- 

 jecture is, that they are either of the Holderness breed, or derived from 

 it ; judging from the varied color, or from somewhat better evidence, the 

 small head and slender neck, in which they bear a striking resemblance to 

 them. These cattle, from which, by crosses with the native breed, the 

 present improved Ayrshire arose, were first introduced on Lord March- 

 mont' s estate in Berwickshire. A bull of the new stock was sold to Mr. 

 Hamilton of Sundrum ; then Mr. Dunlop, in Cunningham, imported 

 some of the Dutch cattle, and their progeny was long aftenvards distin- 

 guished by the name of the Dunlop cows. These were the first of the 

 improved, or stranger breed, that reached the bailleryof Cunningham. 

 Mr. Orr, about the year 1767, brought to his estate of Grongar, near 

 Kilmarnock, some fine milch cows of a larger size than any which had 



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