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THE GENESEE FARMER. 55 



for producing milk, confine ourselves to the Ayrshire, as these are the only breed in Scotland 

 that are reared principally for tlieir power of secreting the lactic fluid. The particular points 

 in the structural formation can be understood by those having a knowledge of stock, Avithout 

 giving cuts. To those wlio do not understand stock, we refer them to the cuts previously 

 given in describing the Short-horns. (See. January number, pp. 18, 20.) 



The head of both male and female should be small, rather long, and tapering toward the 

 muzzle, which should be darlcer than the color of tlie skin. The eye large, lively, but not too 

 prominent. In both bull and cow the jaw-bone should be strong, and open behind, to admit 

 of the throat being fully developed where it passes from the head into the neck. The horns 

 should be small, clean, crooked, and placed at considerable distance from one another at the 

 setting on. The ears rather large, and orange tipped in the inside. The neck long, slender, 

 tapering towards the head, and having the appearance of hoUowness ; the skin and throat 

 loosely attached to the lower part of the neck. The point of the wither or shoulder should 

 be thin. The shoulder blades should be close above, with a very slight covering of muscle. 

 They should be developed outwards to the ])oint of the shoulders, and should appear to the 

 eye as detached from the structure of the cliest. The chest, fore quarters, and neck should 

 be liglit. The hind quarters large, and somewhat heavy. The back should be straight, grad- 

 ually widening from the point of the shoulders toward the hook bones. These should be 

 wide, raised at the points, and presenting a somewhat scraggy look. The ribs toward the 

 pelvis should be wide and circular. These, with the joints, should appear open. The carcass 

 should gradually deepen towards the hind quarters, and these should be d^p. The length of 

 quarters should exceed the breadth between the hocks. Dairy stock can sbarcely be too long 

 in the quarters. The quarters with the pelvis should be roomy — the buttocks should be 

 jisquare, and somewhat fleshy — the distance between the top of the tail and the hock joints 

 should be extreme. The hock joints should be broad, as well as the legs above and beneath 

 these joints. The legs should be short, somewhat delicately formed at the joints as well as at 

 the fetlocks, and the animal should appear short-legged. The feet should be round, some- 

 what large, and strong. The tail should be set on rather at a curve than at right angles. It 

 should be long, tapering towards the point, and the quantity of hair at the point should be 

 moderate. The form of the milk vessel is of paramount importance. It can scarcely be too 

 capacious. It should be placed well forward on the belly, and appear behind the line of the 

 thighs. It should have a somewhat square form, but not low, heavy, nor loose, nor fleshy. 

 The color of the udder is by some also deemed of great importance. It should be rather 

 white than brown, except the color of tlie skin be wholly brown or black. The milk veins 

 should be large and prominent. The teats should be placed wide apart, rather small, and 

 pointing outwards. Next in importance to the form of the udder, is the touch. The skin 

 should be thin, having the soft feel of a fine kid glove. The hair should be soft, and some- 

 what woolly. The color should be distinct ; dark red, or approaching to black, are both 

 fashionable. The colors, if two, should be arranged in blots or small patches ; light fawns 

 are not uncommon, but are not deemed hardy ; some are beautifully spotted with red on a 

 white grcnmd. The very light colors approaching to white are objectionable. A dash of the 

 Alderney, as well as of the West Highlander, can sometimes be discerned, particularly in the 

 color of the best Ayrshires ; but the breed as a whole presents a characteristic distinctness of 

 colors as well as of form. The form wants tliat symmetry which distinguishes the Short-horn, 

 being more lengthy and less proportional. They are, as a breed, constitutionally much more 

 restless and excitable than the Sliort-horn, approaching more to the West Ilighlandei-. The 

 eye, although hvely, should be expressive of quietness and placidity of temper ; an irritabihty 

 of temper being a not uncommon defect in the Ayrshire ; the bulls in some districts becommg 

 dangerous. This defect is believed by some to be confined to particular localities, atid con- 

 nected in some degree with the soil. The. animal, when walking, should^ have a gay and 

 somewhat jaunty appearance, and present all the signs ot a healthy constitution. This latter 

 point has been too much overlooked in judging of Ayrshire stock. The animals are what is 

 termed drawn too fine ; hence the great tendency to chest diseases in this breed. 



It is perhaps unnecessary to arrange the difl"erent points as we did in the case of the Short- 

 horns. Pedigree is, as we previously stated, little attended to in this breed. The bull, if in 

 fair condition, should have an equal covering of fatty flesh all over the body, every part of it 

 being clothed as it were with flesh. The skin soft, with the hair silky to the touch ; and 

 although he should be less feminine in appearance than a cow, he should not be too masculine 

 looking. The muscles of both sexes, particulaiiy the female, should be somewhat slender. 

 These will be best observed along the neck: 



The young of both sexes should be judged of in the same manner as the matured animals. 

 In the "heifer, the udder should be somewhat prominently developed ; the skin of it being 

 loose behind, and showing a capability of stretching. 



