660 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



produce rolling pastures in most parts, while the better lands grow grain 

 crops and grass in abundance. The conditions, on the whole, demand a 

 hard y rustling breed of dairy cattle, and Ayrshires have been developed to 

 suit the needs of their native country. Early history records the use of 

 several different breeds of cattle which undoubtedly have contributed to 

 the establishment of the Ayrshire breed. Teeswater, Shorthorn, Dutch, 

 Lincoln, Hereford, Devon and West Highland breeds are mentioned by 

 various authors as having been used. Whatever the true origin may have 

 been, the breed has been bred pure for many years, and its character 

 fixed after the manner of other pure breeds of livestock developed by the 

 Scotch people. The production of a breed of cattle suited to the condition 

 of environment of that country, and especially adapted fur the production 

 of large yields of milk, was the standard which guided the breeders in fixing 

 the characteristics of this breed. The breed has found favor in other 

 countries and to a greater or less extent in all daily sections of America, 

 especially in the New England states and the provinces of Canada. 



Characteristics of Ayrshire Cattle. — Ayrshire cattle are medium in 

 size. Cows should weigh on the average 1000 pounds and bulls 1500 

 pounds. The color is a combination of white, red, brown and black. 

 White predominating with red or brown markings is the more popular 

 color. There are black and white Ayrshires in Scotland whose purity of 

 blood is not questioned. A neat head with horns of medium length, inclin- 

 ing upward, a body with straight top line, well-developed chest, arched ribs, 

 deep flank, and comparatively smooth hind quarters and an udder that is 

 symmetrical and well balanced in form and well carried up to the body 

 characterize the typical Ayrshire cow. The size of teats in many cows is 

 subject to the criticism of being too small and one will do well to bear this 

 in mind in making selections. The milk production of mature cows has in 

 a few instances, under official tests, exceeded 20,000 pounds of milk per 

 annum. An Ayrshire cow should be expected to yield 6000 to 8000 pounds 

 of milk under ordinary conditions. The milk tests in the neighborhood of 

 four per cent butter-fat. The highest official yearly production for an 

 Ayrshire cow to date was made by Auchenbrain Brown Kate 4th, 27943, 

 owned by Percival Roberts, Jr., Narberth, Pa. Her yearly production 

 amounted to 23,022 pounds of milk testing 3.99 per cent and 917.6 pounds 

 of butter fat. 



BROWN SWISS CATTLE 



Origin and Development. — The Brown Swiss breed of cattle has its 

 origin in Switzerland and the cattle by virtue of their native home are 

 strong, rugged and hardy. In this country they have been developed 

 with reference to their dairy qualities to the extent that they have become 

 recognized as one of the distinct dairy breeds. Up to 1907 they were 

 bred and largely advertised as a dual purpose breed. In the meantime, 

 however, the American breeders have given careful attention to selecting 



