g6 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



REPRESENTING THE AYRSHIRE BREED OF CATTLE. 



Mr. John Stewart, of Elburn, III. 



Ladies and Gentlemen. — 



I didn't suppose that we came her to condemn breeds of cattle, as I 

 believe that all breeds of cattle at the present time introduced into the 

 United States have their good point. I was rather astonished to hear those 

 rcea make statements extolling their cattle beyond all others, and con- 

 den ning some ^ther breeds. 



I cannot give you a speech, but can tell you something of what I 

 know about Ayrshire cattle. Thirty years ago I went across the Atlantic 

 and brought a lot of cattle from Scotland. Since then I have kept from 25 

 to 100 head of pure Ayrshires. I have imported along at times and kept 

 up my herd. I don't want to claim to you that all Ayrshire cattle are 

 good. There are poor cattle in every breed; that will crop out, just like 

 it does in children. I don't keep mine for money-making. 



The difficulty, my friends, is, in my judgment, the American people 

 arc all for money. They* will stand here before you and tell you how much 

 tLey have made and how much their ^cows have paid them. They don't tell 

 you that the maiority of men that have gone across the Atlantic and 

 tcught cows, including Holsteins, Jerseys and the others, ?iave bought 

 them for about $100 and sold them for $! : 00 — and we are making money. 

 Ttat is something I know nothing abo"t personally, only as I read. 



The Ayrshire cattle I have kept, and have a record here which I will 

 trie fly outline to you later. They are good milking cows. They are tol- 

 erably easy to keep, not large, but healthy, thrifty cattle. 



They have been kept for some 300 years or over in Scotland and raised 

 for the purpose of milk. In going through England, Scotland and Ireland 

 if you notice a certain kind of cattle Jersey I will say. You take the Jersey 



