Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-11
House, Farm and Garden.
/. ID. II. COLLINS, Editor.
AYRSHIRE Cattle.


Ayrshire Cattle.
There are not far from $500 pure Ayr
shire cattle in this country in the hands of
some $50 breeders, according to the latest
estimates. Ofcourse, the grades are much
more numerous and widely known. 1t is
a curious fact that many of the Ayrshire
breeders and importers are Scotchmen, or
their descendants-at least we Judge so
from the names given in the Herd Book.
Ayrshire cattle care proverbally Mixers"
and hence another fact is noticeable, that
they are growing in favor in old dairy dis
tricts where the animal economies are most
closely studied Many of the men who in
quire for pure Ayrshires to-day are those
who have found grade Ayrshires remarka-
BILE dairy animals. They reason thus: if
the grades are so good, the best pure breeds
must be better; and they doubtless reason
correctly.
There is considerable speculative inquiry
for Ayrshires at the present time, some am
porting, and others buying and building
up herds.
The Messrs. Sturteyants, of South Franz
ingham, Mass, wear the honors of the lat
est importation into the United States
They, with large expenditure, but com
mendable enterprise, enriched their previ-
ously choice herd with eight others direct
from the Gland of heather" on December
9th last. Nearly all of sufficient age have
been prize takers in the Scottish fairs, and
all have an ancestry standing high and IL
lustrious in the milky-way. Ayrshire cat
tie are more frequently brought into the
Canadas, because it can be done more
cheaply; and we hear of recent arrivals at
Quebec, and more to follow in March,
Chief among those who have come to our
knowledge as building up herds out of the
best home materials are H L. Stewat &
Son, of Middle Haddam, Conn. Charles
Sanford, of Orwell, VT, and Edward l.
Coy, of West Hebron, \. Y. The last
named gentleman paid 500 for a COW and
calf of this breed recently.
The early history Of the Ayrshires-like
that of the human race, and perhaps the
famous Shorthorn-is wrapped in a little
obscurity. The Ayrshires take their name
from the county of Ayrshire, in Scotland
where they have been longest bred anC
doubtless where they originated The!
are supposed to be a cross of the Southern
and Alderny breeds, and can be traced bacl
at farthest only 40 years, or to the day
/ Of the Earl Of MarchmOnt Not till with
in the last fifty years-so far as is certain
ly known-has there been special pain
taken to establish this breed; and all tn
importations into this country have beer
made within forty years.
This Is short biography Yet the Ayr
shires have a good dairy record and tina
is one of the best criterions of value, wher
milk is an object. Everywhere aud a
ways, that animal is the cheapest and be>
gives the largest return Tor the food con
sumed, whether that return be milk, bee
or work. By this standard, the Ayrshire
as a breed, grade and all, are not afraid :
be measured. There may be exception,
cases-as there are sons ofroyalty who al
renegades-but still the rule holds goo,
There are several well authenticated cast
where they have given thirty quarts ,
milk per day one case where the COW gay
her live weight in milk in seventeen day.
and still another, where the daily avera2
was eleven quarts of milk for an entil
year. That good old COW, Jean Armour
imported by Mr.. Peters, of Southborl
Mass, in 1858, averaged ~ $40 pounds
milk for ia successive days, and, at th
trial made 6 3-l6 pounds of butter in thr,
days.
We submit that the end Is not reacher
but that there are greater milking resul
in store for those who choose to win ther
He is as much a public benefactor wi
grows two quarts of milk where one gre
before as the man who makes grass a sp
cialty; and more so, because his infuen
p upon human health and happiness is mo
/ direct Double the quantity of food, al
, you cheaper its price: cheaper food, Al
I you stimulate almost every other ente
prise. The food must be had at all Ia
ards and at any cost, or we die. The ca:
I er it is obtained, the more time we ha
q for other pursuits and callings.
= The Ayrshire breeders are vain enoul
/ to believe that they are on the right trac
= They have got a good thing, and they pr
pose to stick to it. They first issued
$ herd book in 1868; a second volume "
{. added in 1868; and now a third volume
t in course of preparation by J. y. Bra2
Il of West Springfield, Mass.
Il He asks for pedigrees and achievemer
Il of all thoroughbred Ayrshire cattle, in
e circular, and hopes eventually to furni
It some Ayrshire literature for the public e,
1t is the intention to put this herd reco
to press by the first of August next, up
which time it will be kept open.-Hea.
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