432 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



in spots, not mixed, with a tendency at 

 present toward more white. The red is 

 bright and is frequently compared to 

 that of the shell of the horse chestnut. 

 The udder of the Ayrshire is somewhat 

 characteristic, being flattened from side 

 to side and extending far forward and 

 backward. The teats are small and tend 

 rather to a cylindrical than a conical 

 form. The Ayrshire is nervous and the 

 cows sometimes show a tendency to be 

 quarrelsome, but the bulls are not par- 

 ticularly vicious. 



In good hands, a herd of Ayrshires 

 should average 5,500 pounds of milk a 



Guernseys, likewise, are most exten- 

 sively maintained in New England, New 

 York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and 

 Wisconsin, while tbe Ayrshires are 

 mpst numerous in New York, Massa- 

 chusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire 

 and less frequently observed in the cen- 

 tral states and west of the Mississippi. 



French Canadian — This breed, while 

 of little importance in the United 

 States, is mentioned in this connection 

 on account of its evident relation and 

 origin to other breeds from England and 

 the Channel Islands. French Canadian 

 cattle are the prevailing breed in nearly 



Eig. 279 — GUERNSEY COW DOLLY BLOOM WITH A RECORD OF 975 TOUNDS BUTTER 



IN ONE YEAR 



head annually. In some noted herds, the 

 average yield has reached nearly 7,000 

 pounds and many cows have given from 

 10,000 to 12,000 pounds a year. The 

 milk fat averages about 4 per cent, and 

 the amount of butter in good herds 

 should run from 300 to 320 pounds each 

 a year. The milk of the Ayrshire is not 

 especially rich in fat, but is above the 

 average for all dairy cows. 



With regard to the distribution of the 

 breeds thus far considered, Jerseys are 

 found in all parts of the United States, 

 but are kept most numerously in the 

 eastern and middle states and less ex- 

 tensively in the West and South. The 



all of the counties of Quebec, where they 

 have been bred in a pure form for more 

 than 250 years. In this country few of 

 them are found outside of New York 

 and New England states bordering on 

 Canada. The breed is noted for its 

 vigor and ability to withstand severe 

 climates. They are light and active and 

 therefore adapted to rough, hilly pas- 

 tures. The average weight of the cow 

 is about 700 pounds, and when well fed 

 she should yield from 5,000 to 6,000 

 pounds of milk a year. The milk car- 

 ries a fat content of 4 to 5 per cent. 

 Their chief weakness is their small size 

 and slowness of maturing. 



