282 



A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



various places, for Shorthorn, Highland, Dutch, Guernsey, 

 Devon, and Hereford cattle are said to have been owned 

 by the farmers of that region. From the mingling of color 

 of these breeds we get the red, brown, and white markings 

 that are features of the Ayrshire. At the beginning of the 

 nineteenth century there were cows in southwest Scotland 

 that were famous milkers, and by offering prizes for compe- 

 tition, the Scotch people have still more encouraged large 

 milk production. Ayrshires were first imported to America 

 early in the nineteenth century. 



Figure 114. — Three beautiful Ayrshire cows owned by Artliur H. Sagendorph 

 of Massachusetts. Photograph from American Agruidtttrist. 



Characteristics of the Ayrshire. The mature bull should 

 weigh about 1,500 pounds, and the cow about 1,100. The 

 color is red and white or brown and white, with white most 

 abundant in recent years. The head is one of the striking 

 features of the iDreed, with its rather long, large and erect 

 horns. While a true dairy breed, the Ayrshire inclines to 

 be a trifle fleshy, with more thickness over the withers, along 

 the back, and about the thighs than in case of the Jersey or 



