PRAISE FOR AYRSHIRES.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 8

PRAISE FOR AYRSHIRES.

POINTS OF VALUE. A BRIGHT FUTURE. Mr W. Hall, of Lepperton, judge of the Ayrshires, expressed the opinion that liic Ayrshire cow was not given the credit it was entitled to. There had been much misunderstanding in the past in this respect. He knew an Ayrshire that had given 15,3001 b of milk in a year. If this milk had been sold for town supply at would have realised £l5O. "What other cow could equal this?" the judge asked. A great deal had been said about the unsuitabJlity of the Ayrshire's teats for milking, but if an examination of all the breeds was made 11. would be found that the teals of I.ho Ayrshire, which were set well apart and were of uniform medium size, were Ideally suited for milking by machines. Moreover, the Ayrshire was the best forager of all the breeds and could Jive where other cows would starve.

The Ayrshire had another virtue, said Mr Hall, which had n*t been fully recognised, and that was that she was the best cos- of all the breeds for cheese manufacture. Enquiries that had been made in America showed that cows which gave the uniform test of 4 per cent, of butterfat were the best suited for cheese supply. This was because the globules in Ayrshire rnilk mixed with the other solids. There was not so much butterfat in this as in other milk, but what there was became incorporated with the other solids and made a much better quality cheese. Mr Hall said that New Zealand was destined to become the greatest cheese manufacturing country of the world. In Siberia and in other great butter countries the manufacture of cheese was impracticable, while, on the other hand, New Zealand- was admirably suited to this class of primary product.

Mr Hall said he did not expeet to find such splendid quality and condition amongst the Ayrshires. The whole exhibit would compare very favourably with those in other parts of the Dominion. The first and champion aged cow was champion at the Royal Show at Duncdin last year, but in the speaker's opinion she would even be better than she was at the. present time, being an exceptionally true to type animal. She was followed closely by the second prize cow, whose front end was not quite so true vis the winner's, and her vessel was not quite so true. The three-year-old class was a useful lot, but not quite up to the Ayrshire type. The two-year-olds were quite a good class, whilst the yearling females were the strongest in the whole section. The winners were good enough to be shown anywhere in New Zealand. In the male section the first and champion was a good typical animal of the breed, and in the judge's opinion was probably' good enough for any show. The two-year-old bulls were fair, but the yearling bulls were good typical animals.