FIRST CENTURY OF DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



level sole. The teats are small, and of a cylindrical shape, rather 

 than cone-shaped, as seen in other cases. The udder i> admirably 

 fitted, by its elasticity, for the storage of milk, and when the glands 

 are al rest, occupies but little space. The eye, accustomed to see the 

 pendent, fleshy udder, so often met with in dairy animals, is apt to 

 under-rate, in comparison, the capacity of the small bag of this breed, 

 with its wr'nkled and folded covering, so deceptive to the unskilled, 

 but so full of promise to the educated observer. At the proper time, 

 these wrinkles smooth out, the folds expand, and the filled udder ot 

 the Ayrshire has come to be regarded as a model shape for all dairy 

 breeds. The teats are, however, often too small for comfortable 

 milking ; but careful breeders have remedied this defect, to a great 

 extent, and whole herds can be found with superb udder^ and teats 

 of good size, although rarely large." 



The Ayrshire is of a highly nervous temperament. The cow has a 

 superabundance of nerves, and is willing to employ them upon in- 

 stant demand, in -self-defence or self-support. The bulls, if properly 

 handled, are not fractious, but the old ones are rather inclined to be 

 quarrelsome in the vicinity of other bulls, with a decided love of 

 home. They are always active and energetic ; stop only for a pur- 

 pose; move off with a brisk walk, and often trot without special pro- 

 vocation. 



Promptness is one o-f the characteristics of the breed, caused prob- 

 ably^ by the nature of the climate and surroundings 'iif the South- 

 west of Scotland, extending for 80 miles in the vicinity of the River 

 Clyde and the Irish Sea. 



The Ayrshire Association of Scotland has endeavoured to immor- 

 talise the points of the Ayrshire cow in verse, which was a difficult 

 task, even for the genius of the poets of Scotland, since the day3 of 

 the immortal Burns. The more modern effort, however, is worthy 

 of a place in any description which may be suggested of a model Ayr- 

 shire. It is as follows: 



The Ayrshire Cow. 



Would you know how to judge of a good Ayrshire cow? 



Attend to the lesson you'll hear from me now. 



Her head should be short and her muzzle good size, 



Her no.se should fine between muzzle and eyes; 



Her eyes full and lively, forehead ample and wide, 



Horns wide, looking up, and curved, inward besides; 



Her neck should be a fine tapering wedge, 



And free from loose skin on the undermost edge; 



Should be fine where t'is joined with the seat of the brain, 



Long and straight upper line without hollow or mane; 



Shoulder-blades should be thin where they meet at the top; 



Let her brisket be light, not resemble a crop; 



Her forepa/rt recede like the lash of a whip, 



And strongly resemble the bow of a ship; 



Her back short and straight, with the >]>ine well defined, 



Especially where back, neck, and shoulders are joined; 



Her ribs short and arched, like the ribs of a bnrgs; 



Body deep at the flanks, and milk veins full and large ; 



Pelvis long, broad and straight, a>nd in some measure flat; 



Hock bones wide apart and not bearing much fat; 



Her thighs deep and broad, neither rounded nor Hat ; 



Her tail long and fine and joined square with her back,, 



Milk vessels capacious, and forward extending. 



The hinder part broad and to body fast pending; 



The sole of her udder should just form a plane, 



And all her four teats equal thickness attain, 



Their distance apart when viewed from behind, 



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