SUPERIORITY OF AYRSHIRES. 25 



that of the Devon, "because," as the judges affirm, 

 " the Ayrshires have been bred almost exclusively with 

 reference to their milking properties." 



We must conclude, then, that " for purely dairy pur- 

 poses the Ayrshire cow deserves the first place. In 

 consequence of her small, symmetrical, and compact 

 body, combined with a well-formed chest and a capa- 

 cious stomach, there is little waste, comparatively 

 speaking, through the respiratory system ; while, at the 

 same time, there is very complete assimilation of the 

 food, and thus she converts a large proportion of her 

 food into milk. So remarkable is this fact, that all dairy 

 farmers who have any experience on the point agree in 

 stating that an Ayrshire cow generally gives a larger 

 return of milk for the food consumed than a cow of any 

 other breed. The absolute quantity may not be so 

 great, but it is obtained at a less cost ; and this is the 

 point upon which the question of profit depends." 



I have dwelt thus at length upon this race for the 

 reason that it is preeminently a dairy breed, surpassing all 

 other pure breeds in the production of rich milk and but- 

 ter on soils of medium fertility, and admirably adapted, 

 in my opinion, to raise the character of our stock to a 

 higher standard of excellence. The best milkers I have 

 ever known, in the course of my own observations, 

 were grade Ayrshires, larger in size than the pure 

 bloods, but still sufficiently high grades to give certain 

 signs of their origin. I have owned several such, which 

 were all good cows. This grade would seem to possess 

 the advantage of combining, to some extent, the two 

 qualities of milking and adaptation to beef; and this 

 is no small recommendation of the stock to farmers 

 situated as American farmers are, who wish for milk for 

 some years and then to turn over to the butcher. 



