64 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



of the Durham or Teeswater breed, which afterwards in the 

 improved form became known as the Shorthorns. It is 

 reasonably certain, according to this author, that Channel 

 Island blood was also introduced quite generously. It is 

 also probable that Holderness blood was introduced to some 

 extent at an early date. 



Professor Low, the eminent English authority, makes the 

 following statement : " From all evidence which, in the ab- 

 sence of authentic documents, the case admits of, the dairy 

 breed of Ayrshire cows owes its character to a mixture of 

 the blood of the races of the continent and of the dairy breed 

 of Alderney." 



In Ayrshire some attention has always been given to the 

 beef-making capacity of the breed especially in the early 

 period of their development. During the early part of the 

 nineteenth century, the hind quarters especially were im- 

 proved and the udder brought to its present symmetrical 

 proportions. 



They are the leading dairy cattle in Scotland, and are com- 

 mon in some parts of England. This is one of the few British 

 breeds that has spread to any extent on the Continent of 

 Europe. They are quite numerous in Finland, Sweden, and 

 Norway, while in New Zealand they are the most important 

 dairy breed. 



Conditions in Ayrshire. Ayrshire is situated on the south- 

 west coast of Scotland. The land rises from the level of the 

 ocean on the west to mountains about 2000 feet high on the 

 east. The soil is a heavy clay of moderate fertility spread 

 over a hilly surface. The temperature ranges from 25 to 

 65 F. during the year, and is not subject to great ex- 

 tremes, although swept by fierce storms occasionally. The 



