THE DAIRY BREEDS OF CATTLE 293 
Jersey) cross was also introduced into the Ayrshire district 
at this time. An evidence that the Jersey was used is 
the small head and slender neck possessed in common by 
both these breeds. In spite of the lack of historical evi- 
dence that Jersey cattle were crossed on the old Ayrshire 
stock, Low concludes that the ‘ Dairy Breed of Ayrshires 
owes the characteristics which distinguish it from the 
older race to mixture with the blood races of the continent 
and of the Dairy Breeds of Alderney.” 
From the above, we may rightly infer that the condi- 
tions which surrounded the foundation of the Ayrshire 
breed were such that the fittest only could survive. 
This factor of hardiness was apparently but little dis- 
turbed, if any, when the Teeswater cross was made. 
Hardihood has been so closely interwoven with every 
fiber of the Ayrshires that they are to-day the most hardy 
of all breeds of dairy cattle, with the possible exception 
of the Irish Kerry. It is probable that the Teeswater 
cross eventually increased the milk-producing ability of 
the Ayrshire. 
What is true of many of our improved breeds of cattle 
is true, also, of the Ayrshire: that no one breeder stands 
out prominently from his fellows as the great improver 
of the breed. The dairy-farmers of Ayr and the adjacent 
counties worked together for the common purpose of 
developing a hardy, active race of cattle adapted to the 
humid climate and sparse hillside pastures, as well as a 
race that would produce the maximum amount of milk 
when fed on chaffed straw and roots during the long winters 
of Scotland. Their success is indicated by the very large 
number of exportations from Scotland to other countries. 
324. History in America. — Ayrshire cattle were first 
imported into America between 1820 and 1830, Importa- 
