AYRSHIRE WINS RECORD

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 14

AYRSHIRE WINS RECORD

PRODUCTION OF 13561 b BUTTERFAT MILK YIELD OF 31,0001 b A new star has streaked across the Ayrshire heavens (says The Ayrshire Digest). A grand cow named Ardgowan Valda, winner of show-ring "championships, has shattered not only the milk and butterfat records of the breed, but has also established a new 365-day butterfat record over all breeds for cows milked three times daily. The only record that exceeds this is that of the Holstein Carnation Ormsby Butter King that produced 14021 b of fat on a four-times-a-day milking schedule. On August 4 the new champion, owned by F. C. Biggs and Sons, Glen Campbell Farm, Dundas, Ontario, completed a 365-day record of 31,1561 b., 4.35 per cent, milk and 13561 b fat. Thus with one supreme effort this outstanding Ayrshire that has been regarded for several years as one of the most remarkable dairy cows on the continent displaced the Canadian Ayrshire record of 27,1981 b milk and 12571 b fat held since 1928 by Nellie Osborne of Elin Shade 16th and the 13071 b fat record of the English-owned GrangeRosebud 2nd.

In addition her milk production of 31,1561 b gives her the distinction of becoming the second 30,0001 b Ayrshire and displaces by 2461 b the record of 30,9101 b completed in November 1936, by Mr Alex Cochrane’s Nether Craig Janet, the first Ayrshire to make fifteen, tons of milk. The new champion is also the second Ayrshire to make over 13001 b fat.

This great cow also has the honour of being the world’s champion butterfat producer of all breeds not milked more than three times daily. Her butterfat yield of 13561 b exceeds by 431 b the great record of 13131 b made by the distinguished Canadian Jersey producer Brampton Basilica that held the world’s record over all breeds for cows milked less than four times daily. The highest butteraft record made by a Jersey cow in the United States milked three times daily is that of Stockwell’s April Pogis of H.P. that produced 12181 b fat. Valda has exceeded by more than 1001 b her nearest competitors in the Friesian and Guernsey breeds. CHAMPION IN SHOW-RING

Ardgowan Valda enjoys the distinction of being one of the very few if not the only champion producer of any breed to win a major show-ring championship right in the midst of her record-breaking lactation. Calving on August 2, 1936, Valda was exhibited about a month later at the Canadian National Exposition, and although giving nearly 1001 b of milk a day she won the aged cow class and grand championship. Taking this important showring event in her stride she returned to Glen Campbell to continue at her record-breaking pace. Prior to this win Valda won first prize as the best record cow of the 1933 Royal Winter Fair and was also placed third in the aged cow class, the feature event of the show. As a three-year-old prior to her importation Ardgowan Valda won first at the 1929 Highland Society’s Show in Scotland, and during the time she was owned by Mr Mode, of Vankleek Hill, Ontario, she was grand champion at the Lachute Show. Among her progeny, too, are several winners in Scotland and in Canada. She was born on December 26, 1925, and as a consequence was nearly 12 years old when her record was completed. , She was bred by Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart, of. Ardgowan, Scotland. The following is Valda’s production month by month during test: —

Her feeding consisted of corn silage after her grain and beet pulp with clover hay and an occasional feeding of third-cut alfalfa. Molasses was fed on the pulp and the grain ration was changed a good deal with rolled oats, bran, oil, cake, and a commercial ration was changed a good deal with rolled ots, bran, oil cake, and a commercial ration forming it. The water was warmed for her and when measured out to her her highest day’s consumption was twenty-eight gallons.

Days in Lbs. Lbs. Month Milk Milk Fat August 1936 27 2305.5 80.69 September 30 2805.5 98.19 October 31 2960.0 125.82 November 30 3135.0 166.16 December 31 3086.5 157.41 January 1937 31 3053.5 103.82 February 28 2418.5 104.00 March 31 2724.0 133.48 April 30 2510.5 102.93 May 31 2335.0 100.41 June 30 2046.0 107.11 July 31 1601.5 68.61 August 4 175.0 ‘ 7.53