1874.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
4rJ S 
Ayrshire and Native Cows Compared. 
Dr. E. Lewis Sturtevant, of Waushakum, 
Ct., favors us with the following statement of 
the comparative yields of pure-bred Ayrshires 
and a picked herd of native cows, which shows 
a great difference 
m favor of the Ayr¬ 
shire cows, bred 
especially with ref¬ 
erence to a large 
yield of milk for 
many years: 
The proprietors 
of Waushakum 
Farm entered into 
the raising of milk 
in the summer and 
fall of 1866, with 
the idea that the 
most profitable 
stock to keep 
would be the high¬ 
est class of grade, 
or so-called native 
eows. The best 
were accordingly 
purchased, without 
regard to price, and 
fed high, in order 
to develop the best 
results in milk, and 
also that the ani¬ 
mals, when dry, 
or in case of accident, could be quickly 
prepared for the shambles. In 1868, hear¬ 
ing so much said in favor of thoroughbreds, 
we concluded to experiment on a small scale; 
so during this year we bad two Jersey and four 
Ayrshire cows on our premises. In 1869 we 
had become so well convinced that the Ayr¬ 
shire breed would be the most profitable for 
our uses, that in December, 1869, eight cows in 
calf were procured from Scotland. A few 
other imported cows purchased at low prices 
on this side, and the progeny of imported cows, 
constitute our pres¬ 
ent herd. As a 
careful system of 
accounts has now 
been kept with 
each cow in our 
possession, giving 
the daily yield of 
milk in pounds 
since 1866, we are 
enabled to present 
a few facts relating 
to a herd kept dur¬ 
ing seven years; 
and these facts 
show the effect of 
a change in breed; 
not clearly, how¬ 
ever,for the natives 
were old cows in 
their prime and fed 
especially for milk: 
the Ayrshires, a 
breeding stock, in¬ 
cluding heifers in 
milk, and fed with 
reference to their 
healthfulness and 
durability as a breed. During these seven years 
we have a record of 68 annual yields from 34 
different native cows, and 62 annual yields from 
18 different Ayrshire cows. Total of the 68 na¬ 
tive yields, 324,723 lbs., or per cow, 4,775 lbs.; 
total of the 62 Ayrshire yields, 329,160 lbs., or 
per cow, 5,309 lbs.; difference in favor of Ayr- 
shires, 534 lbs. for each cow. The 34 native cows 
were the best of 50 owned during this time; 
the 18 Ayrshire cows include every one that 
was owned during these years. Separating the 
ten best Ayrshires, selected from 18 cows, gave 
an annual average of 7,317 lbs. Of 62 Ayrshire 
yields, 19.3 per cent were over 6,500 lbs.; 40.3 
per cent over 6,000 lbs. Of 68 native yields, 
11.8 per cent were over 6,500 lbs.; 16.3 per cent 
over 6,000 lbs. If the Ayrshire heifers are left 
out of the con¬ 
AYRSHIRE COW “ LADY KILBOURNXE.” 
period of seven years into two portions, we 
have for the “ native years ” 1867-8-9, an aver¬ 
age j'ield of 4,603 lbs. for each cow r ; for the 
Ayrshires, 1870-1-2-3, an average of 5,623 lbs. 
per cow. A difference in favor of the Ayr¬ 
shires of 1,020 lbs. Taking the best average 
year for each class, we had best average for 
any one year, for natives, 4,834 lbs.; for Ayr¬ 
shires, 6,047 lbs., or 1,213 lbs. in favor of the 
Ayrshires. Average daily yield, per year, 
while in milk : natives, 15.7 lbs.; Ayrshires, 
19.0 lbs.; a difference of 3.3 lbs. a day. Aver¬ 
AYRSniRE COW “GEORGIA.” 
age daily yield of each cow, each year, for the 
whole year: natives, 12.5 lbs.; Ayrshires, 15.5 
lbs.; difference in favor of Ayrshires, 1,095 lbs. 
yearly. The ten best natives, selected from 50 
cows, gave an annual average of 6,943 lbs.; the 
sideration, we have 
the comparison be¬ 
tween native cows 
in each case, and 
a new summary. 
Native yield, 4,775 
lbs. per cow; Ayr¬ 
shire, 5,571 lbs. per 
cow. A difference 
in favor of the 
thoroughbred of 
796 lbs., instead of 
534. The percent¬ 
ages will also be 
changed as fol¬ 
lows : Yields over 
6,000 lbs.: Ayr¬ 
shires, 42.8 per 
cent; natives, 16.3 
per cent. Yield 
over 6,500 lbs.: 
Ayrshires, 21.4 per 
cent; natives, 11.8 
per cent. I trust 
these figures are 
sufficiently in de¬ 
tail for the pur¬ 
pose of comparison, and may be of interest. 
The two cows whose portraits are given 
herewith, are members of this herd. Lady 
Kilbournie was purchased in December 1871, 
and her yield of milk up to August, 1874, was 
as follows: in 1872, 7,429 lbs.; in 1873, 7,124 
lbs.; in April, 1874, she calved, and in August of 
this year she gave 1,0974 lbs. Her highest 
yield was in June, 1873, when newly calved, 
giving 1,338 lbs. in that month. This cow 
weighs about 850 lbs.—Georgia has been in 
the herd since June, 1871. Her yield in 1872 
was 7,127 lbs.; in 
1873, 6,094 lbs.; 
and when fresh in 
August last, gave 
1,417 lbs. in that 
month. Since June, 
1871, up to the 
present time, she 
has given milk 
continually, ex¬ 
cepting in July, 
1873. In June, 1873, 
she gave 110 lbs. of 
milk, calved, and 
in July gave 955 
lbs. Her weight 
is about 890 lbs. 
These yields are 
not given as being 
anything wonder¬ 
ful, but as those 
of a working herd 
in ordinary condi¬ 
tion, and yielding 
milk for profit. 
They show suf¬ 
ficiently that the 
extra cost of a 
pure bred animal is well repaid in her more 
valuable produce not only of milk, but in her 
progeny, as each of her calves at maturity should 
be worth much more than the best native 
cow. This extra value is easily calculated. 
