DAIRY HERD 123 



a rich yellow secretion is a characteristic of the Guernsey, on which 

 breeders lay stress in judging points. Yeksa Sunbeam, who made 14,920.80 

 Ibs. milk yield at nine years old, is the Guernsey champion, with 5.75% 

 butter-fat, a very high performance. There have been many high indi- 

 vidual Guernsey records, though fewer official tests than for the Jersey 

 or Holstein. A good average for butter-fat for this breed is 5.12%. The 

 fat globules are very large, and of rich yellow color; which makes the 

 Guernsey very popular for butter. Like the Jerseys, they are considered 

 somewhat delicate, suited to the mild climate of their native isles. The 

 temperament of both bulls and cows of this breed have been developed and 

 handled on the Island in a manner that would indicate gentleness and 

 quietude. This even temperament has been very conducive to the adapt- 

 ability of the breed to the various climates and conditions of the world at 

 large. The only hindrance to their widespread introduction has been the 

 fact that for the last few years there have not been enough animals to 

 supply the demand. At the present time they are largely on private estates 

 and places where high-class dairy products are demanded, and few, if any, 

 breeding Guernseys from the speculative standpoint. 



The American Guernsey Herd Register requires of all cows entered 

 that they must produce from two years old, or before, not less than 6,000 

 Ibs. of milk, and this is scaled up to a minimum of 10,000 Ibs. of milk for 

 cows five years old and over. The butter-fat record for the year must have 

 a minimum of 250.5 Ibs. at 2 years old, and at 5 years a minimum of 350 Ibs. 

 The American Guernsey Cattle Club was organized in 1877. It has pub- 

 lished 21 volumes of the Herd Register and has recorded, up to March 6, 

 1911, 18,722 males and 34,758 females, a total of 53,480. 



The Guernsey breed was the first to establish an Advance Register of 

 the basis of yearly production of butter-fat. At present the highest milk 

 record is 18,458.80 Ibs., and several cows have made butter-fa't equivalent 

 to more than 1,000 Ibs. of butter in a year. The average for 1,200 records 

 is 8,074.28 Ibs. milk; 410.44 Ibs. butter-fat. _ ... &* 



How do your Guernseys compare? 



THE AYRESHIRE Ayreshires, from the country of Ayr, southwest 

 Scotland, may well be considered next. Though not 



yet so popular as the Jersey, Holstein and Guernsey, the Ayreshire is rapidly 

 growing in popular favor. This is the youngest of the thoroughbred dairy 

 breeds. The average milk yield stands up well in comparison with all other 

 dairy breeds; but there are no sensational individual performances, although 

 of late the Ayreshire has materially advanced in individual yield, both of 

 milk and butter. The Ayreshire is a mixed breed: In color it includes red, 

 brown and white, sometimes combining all three colors, and easily reverts 

 to white, which was the color of the native, wild original. Perhaps 

 the most favored color is dark red, with about one third pure white in 

 splashes, and face white clear down over the mouth. One thing about the' 

 Ayreshire is its general excellence, as distinct from spectacular individual 

 performances. The udder development is good, extending well up behind 

 and coming far forward. In the Pan-American test (1901) the five Ayre- 

 shires ranked second, right next to the Holstein, in milk production, 

 though lower (4th place) in butter test. Ayreshires are rough, rugged, 

 good practical animals, bearing up well under rather hard conditions. In 

 fact, in England, they have been called the poor man's cow. They certainly 

 are producing cows and the general average is high. There is always good 

 net profit in an Ayreshire herd. 



