Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-06-12
The Farm, Garden, Kitchen & Shop,

AYRSHIRE CATTLE.-Ayrshlre lies
on the coast of the Firth of CLYDE in
the southwestern part of Scotland
The traveller in going west from Glas-
gov, which lies In the county of Ian
ark, first strikes into Renfrew, which
lies along the southern shore of the
Clyde below Glasgow. The railway
bends to the left and few miles only
have to be passed before the train is
in Ayrshire just south of Renfrew.-
The climate is milder and softer than
that of most other parts of Scotland.
1t Is well calculated for a dairy dis
trict.
Here about century ago began a
series OF improvements in dairy stock
which, though not over promising at
first, have made the name of Aver as
widely known for its dairy cattle as
the sweet songs of its poet, Burns. 1t
was not wholly by careful selection of
the old native stock. A native race
may be ameliorated by careful choice
and systematic breeding, but the pro-
cess Is slow and uncertain and offers
less to the enterprising breeder, or
did at that time, than the more prom
lslng one OF using imported stock to
obtain first crosses. 1t matters not
what may have been the character of
the first importations. There is even
now, some dispute as to the exact or
igln and the early steps taken to i'm
prove the breed. They were, no
doubt, desultory efforts made without
any idea Of building up a famous
breed. One thing is pretty certain,
and that is that the old stock of that
part of the country which probably
came originally from the western
coast of France was small, i'll fed and
Ill treated, and that when importa-
lions began better course of treat
ment and more generous feeding was
adopted and the change in the general
character of the stock was rapid and
marked.
The Ayrshire cattle, now a well
marked and well defined breed, have
long been distinguished for their re-
markable dairy qualities, for the guam
tity of milk they yield in proportion
to the size of the animal and the
amount Of food consumed. The form
and structure Of the COW from the
muzzle to the tail, indicates that site
possesses qualities which adapt her
to the purposes Of the dairy. Her
head is small, with a low and narrow
muzzle. Her eye is small and lively.
Her horns are usually small clear and
crooked, set well apart at the roots.
Her neck is long and slender, small
toward the head and free from dewlap
Her shoulders are thin, he forequar-
tiers light, her headquarters large and
well developed, giving her a wedge
shaped appearance, which though not
adding materially to her beauty of
form, Is universally regarded among
dalry-men as sign Of a great mixer.
Look at the hind quarters of"Flora,"
drawn from clear and accurate pho
tograph and see the striking devel-
opment behind. Anybody would
know she had the form Of COW of re-
ISssrISaOle eoP0eity OF the ro;It pail -
The back is straight and broad be-
hind, with loose and open joints. The
carcass is deep, the pclvis capaciOus,
wide over the hips. The tail is usu-
ally long, small and slender, the legs
short with firm joints. The udder is
capacious, square, broad, extending
well forward, not over heshy, too low
hung nor loose. The milk veins are
prominent, the teats sometimes too
small, jointing outwards and set well
apart. The Ayrshire is usually a
good handler, her skin thin, her hair
soft. Her general figure is compact
and well proportioned. There is no
Objectionable amount OF offal.
There is a tendency in some of the
Ayrshire heifers to nervousness and
too much life, but it seldom extends
to viciousness. 1t suggests the i'm
portance of mild and gentle treat
ment, frequent handling and freedom
from excitement so far as the keeper
has it in his control.
1t is now nearly forty years since
the Importation of Ayrshire into this
country began, about the year 1880.
Since that time the breed has been
considerably changed, and in appear
ance, good deal improved. The
black muzzle was the more common
than now. The color was darker,
usually deep red or brown fecked
with white. OF late years there has
been a greater tendency to lighter
colors, the red being of a lighter
shade and less In extent, the white
becoming prevailing color, in many.
The form is perhaps more symmetric-
al, more attractive to the eye, but
their dairy qualities have been pres
erved. The animal is hardy, active,
healthy, full of life and spirit, well
adapted to our climate and short
pastures, good mixer, large in
quantity and good quality.
1t should not be expected that the
Ayrshire would do as well here as in
Scotland. Our climate is dry. That
of Ayrshire is moist and mild. A
dazzling rain or mist there keeps
the grass green, succulent, milk pro-
ducing. A dry, hot, sultry, summer
is seldom known there. Here it is
the rule. No COW in such climate
and such feed as we can offer her
will do as well as in such climate
as Scotland, and we have no right to
pXpnct If