The Ayrshire as Dairy Stock.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 10 July 1894, Page 4

The Ayrshire as Dairy Stock.

' In view of the fact that Mr Thomas Scott, of the Inaha farm, has imported aherd of this particular breed into the district, which are highly spoken of, we give the following particulars regarding them (taken from the " Book of Farm Management.") The dairy being the principal industry in this district, the information, will we hope, be of marked interest to our readers : "In its native country every pains have been bestowed to develop the milking powers of the Ayrshire cow, which is so admirably adapted for dairying purposes that it cannot be Burpas3ed, and is of the highest order. On poor or medium soil it is especially useful where the food is not over good, and they turn out the best payers of any in those localities where the herbage is anything but luxuriant." Professor Wrightson, of the Eoyal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Kays :—" The typical Ayrshire cow is formed for milk. Her long, fine head and upturned horns are succeeded by a thin neck ; no great depth of bosom, shoulder tops and crops narrow, ribs well sprung, and gr.at breadth (f hips. Again, looking at the broadside of the animal, the depth should grr dnally increase backwards towards the Hanks, giving what is termed the form. JJhis is much insisted on by all Ayrshire breeders, and it signifies the gradual thickening of the animal from the set on the head to the girth, and the still greater depth at the flank. This gradual deepening contrasts with the heavy fore-end of the Shorthorn, and indicates milking, rather than feeding properties. Milking, is indeed, their apeciaity. The cows will give five gallons per day for three months, three gallons for three months, and one and a half gallons for four months. An average cow should give from GOO to 700 gallons of milk." Another authority says : —" While on the other hand no one expects from the Ayrshire cow any phenomenal records in the production of milk, on the other hand she maintains a good average of production, both in quality and quantity. The milk; is less rich in butter-fatß

than that of the Channel Islands cattle, but shows on an average about 13 per cent, of solids and 4 to 4£ per cent of butter-fats, and selected cows have far exceeded this. The yield of milk is never phenomenally great in quantity, but an average of 500 to 700 gallons per year may be depended upon. While making no claims as a special beef breed, the Ayrshires ' kill well,' steers two or three years old weighing 12501bs to 14001bs alive. The beef, when well fattened, is finely marked, and of good flavour. They are good feeders, and an Ayrshire bullock or dry cow will fatten on feed that would scarcely keep an animal of the larger breeds alive, but the distinguishing excellence of the Ayrshire is that it is hardy, largely exempt from disease, and easily kept. It is this which makes it the farmer's cow all round the world." Professor Long, in the booklet published by the Government in 1889, on the "Dairy Produceof New Zealand," recommends the Ayrshire as one of the breeds that should be used for the purpose of improving the milking properties of New Zealand cattle.