Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

56 CATTLE.
of the West Highlander and the Galloway have not been too
much sacrificed, and even the defects of the short-horn needlessly
perpetuated.
Mr. Aiton says:— " The qualities of a cow are of great importance.
Tameness and docility of temper greatly enhance the value of a milch
cow. Some degree of hardiness, a sound constitution, and a moderate
degree of life and spirits, are qualities to be wished for in a
dairy cow, and what those of Ayrshire generally possess. The most
valuable quality which a dairy cow can possess is, that she yields
much milk, and that of an oily, or butyraceous, or caseous nature,
and that after she lias yielded very large quantities of milk for several
years, she shall be as valuable for beef as any other breed of cows
known ; her fat shall be much more mixed through the whole flesh,
and she shall fatten faster than any other." This is high praise, if it
can "be truly affirmed of the Ayrshire cattle ; we are naturally anxious
to know the origin, the history, and the general management of this
valuable animal. .
AYRSHIRE COW.
The origin of the Ayrshire cow is even at the present day a matter
of dispute ; all that is certainly known is, that a century ao-o there
was no such breed in Cunningham, or Ayrshire, or Scotland. Did
the Ayrshire cattle arise entirely from a careful selection of the best
of the native breed ?—if they did, it is a circumstance unparalleled 1
in the history of agriculture. The native breed may be ameliorated
by careful selection ; its value may be incalculably increased—some
good qualities—some of its best mialities—mav be for the first time