92 



AYRSHIRES 



streaked witli seal brown, giving a brindle effect, but ranging 

 from this to a clear cherry red and white (Kg. 35). The desire 

 for white on the part of the Scottish and Canadian breeders 

 became current a few years ago, with the result that the ideal 

 animals of the present are three-fourths or more pure white and 

 the remaining part a dark red, often assuming a seal brown 

 shade, especially in bulls. The temperament of the Ayrshire is 

 pronounced. The timid, yet forceful and active manner of the 

 aboriginal wild stock used as foundation stock many hundred 

 years ago still asserts itself. Most cows of this breed, though 

 not vicious, are a little hard to handle, because so headstrong. 



Fig. 33. — A champion Ayrshire Bull, Eargenoch Gay Cavalier. Note the beautiful and 

 rugged outUnea and deep chest. (Property of Adam Seitz, Waukesha, Wis.) 



Their character must be taken into account in handling them. 

 Their grazing qualities are phenomenally good. Their feet are 

 sound, their legs are straight and they axe buoyant "Whether for 

 hillside climbing or nibbling of the short grass in semi-arid west- 

 ern prairies, the Ayrshires lead all other breeds of dairy cows. 



The calves at birth are plump, well muscled and weigh about . 

 seventy-five pounds. They are quick to stand and easy to raise. 

 The heifers do not mature very rapidly compared with the 

 Jersey, but sufficiently early for all practical purposes. While 



