PRINCIPAL DAIRY BREEDS 187 



forms. The Jersey cow is a great butter producer. The 

 milk is very rich in butter fat, and the cream rises more 

 rapidly and perfectly than that of most breeds. The 

 average Jersey cows will produce 400 pounds of butter 

 per year, and the best have produced as high as 1,000 

 pounds in that time. 



Guernsey Cattle This breed was produced on the 

 island of Guernsey, not far from the home of the Jerseys. 

 Guernsey cattle are somewhat larger and coarser than the 

 Jerseys, but they resemble them in their ability to produce 

 butter. They give a somewhat larger supply of milk, 

 and it is fully as rich as that of the Jerseys. These are 

 very gentle cattle, and are very popular with dairymen. 



Ayrshire Cattle. These cattle are natives of the county 

 of Ayr in the southwestern part of Scotland. They are 

 good butter producers, but are classed chiefly as cheese 

 cows. The quality of their milk is good and the quan- 

 tity is large. The milk is easily digested even by infants, 

 and is the best for family trade. The Ayrshires are 

 hardy and active. They are able to gather food from 

 scanty pastures better than other breeds. Their short, 

 upward-turned horns, the large patches of red or brown 

 and white, and the fine dairy form, make them a very at- 

 tractive breed. 



Holstein-Friesian Cattle These cattle are sometimes 

 called the Dutch or the Holland cattle. The breed had 

 its origin in Holland, and is the oldest distinct breed in 

 existence. It produces a larger quantity of milk than 

 any other breed. The quality of the milk has not been so 

 good as that of the other dairy breeds, but it has been 

 much improved during the past few years. 



