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VOLUME XXXVI.—No. 8. NEW YORK, ATJGrTJST, 1877. NEW SERIES—No. 367. 
AYRSHIRE 
To one who loves a fine cow, breed is of secondary 
consideration. There are fine cows of all pure 
breeds, and also excellent cows of no breeding at 
all, without either name, reputation, or position in 
the world. If profit only were the consideration in 
keeping cows, there would still be as great diversity 
of breeds as there now is, for one breed is better 
adapted to peculiar circumstances than others. 
The Jersey or Ayrshire would not pay where a 
Short-horn or a Hereford would, and a Devon has 
some useful points which no other cow possesses ; 
nor could a Short-horn be kept with profit where 
the smaller breeds can be. So that it is not fancy, 
or fashion, which makes a diversity of races both 
desirable and necessary. The Ayrshire and Jersey 
cows, however, come into closest competition as 
the best dairy animals, and although the Ayrshire 
takes the palm as a copious milker, yet she has not 
always the rich milk of the Jersey. The difference 
between the two breeds may be stated thus : the 
Ayrshire is useful for all sorts of dairying, and ex¬ 
celling in all but one, viz., that of the production of 
COW “RUBY.” — Drawn and Engraved for the 
butter of a high color and fine quality, while the 
Jersey excels precisely in this one respect, and 
stands at the head of all races as the “ gilt-edged ” 
butter cow. She, therefore, holds a narrower place 
in public estimation than the other. The Ayr¬ 
shire just noi7 is not the subject of any popular 
excitement, and only holds her reputation very 
quietly. It is probable that this breed may be 
somewhat unjustly held iu the background of 
popularity. The Ayrshire, however, can very well 
afford to stand upon its own merits, as these are 
unquestionable. The cow “ Ruby,” whose portrait 
is given above, is a fair representation of a good 
Ayrshire. She is 6 years old, and was imported 
about a year ago by her present owner, Wm. 
Crozier, Northport, Long Island, New York, with 
several other choice animals, personally selected in 
Scotland. She has taken three first premiums at 
Scotch fairs, against numerous competitors, and 
was awarded second premium at the Centennial, 
soon after her importation; the successful com¬ 
petitor being another cow, of the same herd, 
American Agriculturist. 
“ Maggie Anderson,” which was awarded first pre¬ 
mium. “Ruby” was one of the prize Ayrshire 
herd at the Centennial; the judges being seven of- 
the leading Ayrshire breeders in America; the 
distinction of an award in competition with the 
choice stock there exhibited, is at least very credit¬ 
able. “Ruby” is now fresh, with a bull calf by 
her side, and is giving over 29 quarts of milk in 24 
hours, the milk being very rich in cream. Her 
head is fine, the eye full, ears sharp, neck clean, 
and fore-quarters fine. Her hack is very level, the 
loins are deep, and the udder runs up well behind, 
comes well forward, and is broad, the teats being 
so far apart that, for convenience, she is milked 
from both sides. Her calf is by “ Romah,” who is 
out of imported “ Rosie,” a prize cow at the High¬ 
land show at Perth in 1871. On the sires side this 
calf has the best Ayrshire blood to be procured, 
tracing bis lineage through several first prize dams 
at the Highland shows. “Ruby” is recorded 
in the Ayrshire Breeders’ Association Herd Re¬ 
gister, and also in the N. A. Ayrshire Herd Record. 
