60 MEAT. 



MEAT. 



IN Scotland, the older cows and the steers are used 

 extensively for the purpose of food. Almost every 

 reference to the merits of the Ayrshire breed refer to 

 their grazing qualities. Thus Aiton says that their 

 beef is better than that of most other breeds on ac- 

 count of the fat being more evenly mixed with the 

 lean, and claims that the dry cow fattens faster than 

 any other breed. 1 Colman quotes an Ayrshire far- 

 mer who claims there are no better feeders, and that 

 when fatted their beef is as good as that of the West 

 Highland breed. 2 



A reference in the " Dumfries and Galloway Cou- 

 rier " says that there are many instances in which 

 Ayrshires of the same age and size with Galloways 

 have attained to a nearness kindred weights. Two- 

 year-olds of this breed will give the same price as 

 Galloways of the same age. 3 



Sinclair says that they fatten faster and to as great 

 an extent as any of the other breeds in Scotland ; 4 

 and G. Murray (in Jour. R. A. S. of England) says 

 that they are of a kindly disposition, and feed readily 

 when tied up in the stall or put in good pasture. 5 



1 Survey of Ayrshire, 429. 



2 European Ag. ii, 318. 



8 July 11, 1842, quoted in Journ. of Ag. xiii, 1st ser. p. 228. 



4 Code of Agriculture, p. 19, note 142 of notes. 



5 Journ. E. A. S. 1866, p. 56. 



