A PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 48, 24 February 1917, Page 10

A PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.

No previous year in Ayrshire records in the United States marks as great progress as that of the past twelve months. Hoard's Dairyman states that a thoroughly wideawake business policy is being followed, and tho breed is beginning to receive. > the attontion its merits deserve. A number of excellent records completed during the past few months 6how what tho Scottish breed can do. A mature record of more than 25,0001b of milk and a three-year-old production of 21,9381b milk containing 859.651b fat, proves the breed capable of competing with any other in making extreme records. Ayrshirea have long since established their value as consistent producers of large quantities of milk, testing 3.8 to 4 per cent., and for breeding so true that "an, Ayrshire is an Ayrshire, whether found in Scotland, Australia, or tho United States, retaining her conformation and great dairy ability almost unalterable under any and all surrounding conditions."

It ifl explained_ that the present period of progress and increase in popularity of Ayrshire cattle in the United States has come because of years of constructive effort on the part of a number of pioneer breeders. Years ago, a few men. saw a future for the breed. They imported the best blood Scotland boasted, gave intelligent attention to mating the choice individuals, and laid tho basis for the Ayrshire's future in America. Part of this work has been done on. Penshurst Farms, Pennsylvania. This is the home of the world's champion Ayrshire cow, four of her daughters and one son; of the former world's champion and her two sons and one daughter; and of three cows, whose records average 23,5181b milk containing 9001b fat. Old White Beauty 2nd is there. Besides her renown as an example of desired type, this famous cow has a record of 14,7211b of milk, containing 648.421b of fat, made when high records were less common than at present. In five consecutive years she inado 60,9451b of milk. Tha cow Sterling Ejilver shows what one authority must have had in mind when ho wrote: —"A characteristic of the Ayrshire is to hold out to .a good old age in usefulness. That same persistency in holding out her milking period, and difficulty in drying her off between calvings, hold true in her clingingto life and doing good work in the dairy long after the ago limit would warrant her being laid aside." Sterling Silver, a 16-year-old cow, has had 14 living calves in 14 years, seven bulls, and »3ven heifers. Sho dropped her last calf Ist October, 1916, and is milking 401b of milk per day. Auchcnbrain Yellow Kate 3rd adds to tho list of honour with a record of 21,1231b milk containing 888.331b of fat. She is tho fifth highest cow of the breed.