THE AYRSHIRE 



417 



maturity a cow of the breed weighs "from about 1000 pounds 

 to 1200, sometimes going as high as 1400 or 1500." 



The temperament and disposition of the Ayrshire suggests 

 something of the freedom associated with the Scotch hills. 

 There is hardly the docility found in some breeds reared in 

 close restraint, as, for example, the Jersey or Brown Swiss, never- 

 theless the Ayrshire is quiet enough for all practical purposes. 



The Ayrshire for 

 early maturity is more 

 comparable with the 

 Holstein-Friesian than 

 the Jersey. The males 

 frequently do not show 

 strong sex character, 

 as expressed in head 

 and neck, until reach- 

 ing well into yearling 

 age. The heifers also 

 are somewhat slow in 

 developing the mater- 

 nal character often seen 

 in some breeds. These 

 qualities, however, are 

 fully developed when 

 at full maturity. 



The crossbred or 

 grade Ayrshireis better 

 suited to milk production than anything else. Consequently Ayr- 

 shire bulls on grade cows will improve the herd to greater milk- 

 producing power and may add to their selling value to the butcher 

 if used on Jersey grades. 



The prepotency of the Ayrshire is one of its distinguishing 

 features. In Scotland one may see ample evidence of the impress 

 of pure-bred bulls on the grade herds of the country. The well- 

 bred Ayrshire bull transmits in marked degree his color and the 

 head and udder characteristics. 



The Advanced Registry system of the Ayrshire Breeders' 

 Association was inaugurated in 1902- 1903 for the purpose of 



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Fig. 181. Rena Ross 14539, an aged Ayrshire cow 

 owned by Highland Farm, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. 

 Rena Ross is one of the greatest reproducing cows 

 of record. The mother and five daughters have 

 thirteen records averaging 13,114 pounds milk and 

 532.84 pounds fat. From photograph by the author 



