No. 6. 



Ellen McGregor. 



193 



---fSN-yi^. 



ELLEN McGregor. 



The property of John Struthers, Esq., and imported by him in the year 1839. 



The above is an admirable portrait of the thorough-bred Ayrshire Cow, Ellen McGregor. 



The origin of the present race of Ayrshire Cattle is a matter of dispute : some have 

 maintained that they were produced from the native breed crossed with the Alderncy bull, 

 while general tradition affirms that they proceeded from a fortunate cross or a succession of 

 crosses with some foreign stock — probably the Holderness : certain it is, they are a favour- 

 ite breed, bearing many excellent points, and forming altogether a very profitable and con- 

 venient stock for small possessions ; their colour, too, rendering them as beautiful for the 

 park of the wealthy as a herd of deer, and fashionable as dairy stock throughout the country. 



Mr. Aiton's description of the Ayrshire Dairy Cow is faithful: he says, "The shapes 

 most approved of in the dairy are as follow : head small, rather long and narrow ; horns 

 small, clean, crooked, and their roots at considerable distance from each other ; neck slen- 

 der, tapering towards the head, with no loose skin below : shoulders thin, and fore-quarters 

 light ; hind-quarters large ; back straight, and broad behind, the joints rather loose and 

 open ; carcase deep, and pelvis capacious, wide over the hips with round buttocks ; tail long 

 and small ; legs small and short, with fine joints ; udder capacious, broad and square, stretch- 

 ing forward, neither fleshy, low hung, nor loose ; the milk veins large and prominent ; teats 

 short and pointing outwards, and at great distance from each other ; skin thin and loose ; 

 hair soft and rather woolly ; the head, bones, horns, and all parts of least value, small, and 

 the general figure compact and well-proportioned." 



He then goes on to say, " The qualities of a cow are of great importance : tameness and 

 docility of temper greatly enhance her value. Some degree of hardiness, a sound constitu- 

 tion and a moderate degree of life and spirits, are qualities to be wished, and are those 

 which are generally possessed by the Ayrshire cow, but her still more valuable property is, 

 she yields much butter of superior richness, and after many years of service, can be readily 

 turned into beef of the first quality." The average quantity of milk is estimated at 600 

 gallons annually, from each cow in good dairies. 



Other estimates, however, are higher; for Mr. Alton adds, "To sum up all, I repeat, that 

 hundreds and thousands of the best cows, when well fed, yield at the rate of 1000 gallons 

 of milk per year, four gallons of which will give one pound and a half of butter; that 27^ 

 gallons of milk will give one stone and a half, imperial weight, of full milk cheese, and 

 that at a proper season, and when a healthy calf is fed, and the price of veal is as high as 

 for the last fifteen years, their milk will yield a profit in veal equal to eight pence (IG cents) 

 per gallon :" while Mr. Rankine declares that he considers this statement too high, and the 

 calculations not well founded. Will those possessed of this favourite breed, harmonize these 

 conflicting testimonies? 



