UMASS/AMHERST 31E0t.b0D530451D /I. J \ DATE DUE 1 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY SF 191 A98 A7 1899 rsnna^H^ipilf; This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS only, and is subject to a fine of TWO CENTS a day thereafter. It will be due on the day indicated below. 4 YEAR BOOK ..Of the... Ayrshire Breeders ..Jor... *"»"»<— —»^—W^u- «««•««« LIBRARY ISSUE! BY UNIVERSITY t ,r MASSACl;iu.tHc> Aurshire Breeder^'l^top^fpi,-^ . BRANDON, VT.: BRANDON PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1899. 3^'" y^ 454.2. 2L M 1 0^ \%^9 PROCEEDINGS. ' The twenty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association was held February i, 1899, in the Parlor of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, in re- sponse to notice of the Secretar}^ and was called to order b}' the President, L. S. Drew, at 2 p. m. There were present about twenty-five including mem- bers and others. MEMBERS PRESENT. Brown, Obadiah Doe, Charles C. Ennis, Alfred A. Krebs, J. DeWitt. Magie, J. O. Shinier, B. lyUther Turnbull, Thomas Jr Wells, S. M. Casterline, J. Andrew Drew, L. S. French, J. D. W. Lindsa}", William Sears, B. C. Smith, Henr}^ B. Viner, William Winslow, CM. MEMBERS REPRESENTED BY PROXY. Arnold, George W. Babcock, F. M. Bement, George Blodgett, H. W. Bo wen, Edward S. Butterfield, Jerome F. Cass, George I^. Converse, J. F. Cornell, F. P. Curtis, L. W. Farrell, W. E. Fletcher, Geo. A. Garvin, W. R. Harrington, H. A. Hazard, Isaac Ayer, H. S. Bacon, P. K. Betts, Henry Bowker, George H. Bojmton, C. H. Byrne, Christopher Cloud, James & Son, Cookingham, H. W. Crosier, William Drummond, James Fletcher, Etna J. Foss, J. M. Gold, T. S. Hayes, Charles H. Hinson, W. G. 3 Hopkins, Willis W. Jackson, Ward R. Joslin, H. S. learned, J. H. Mason, F. H. McCrea, Robert Norton, W. H. Ormiston Bros. Pierce, Geo. H. Scribner, G. S. Sherman, Everett B. Smith, E. A. Smith, Oliver Smith, Peter D. Spaulding, E. C. Stevens, Wm. Stanford Stewart, John Stowell, ED. Surget, James Thorp, Henry Tubbs, Anibie S. Yeaton, George H. Wells, Dudley Young, James E. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. The membership of the Association has been in- creased during the past year by the addition of nine members, as follows : C. H. Boynton, Eisbon, N. H. Fisher & May, St. Albans Kill, Vt., and Potsdam, N. Y. Edward S. Bowen, Providence, R. I. Charles C. Doe, South Newbury, Vt. George W. Knowlton, West Upton, Mass. Thomas Turnbull Jr., Monaca, Pa. Charles D. Sage, West Brookfield, Mass. Geo. H. McFadden, Rosemont, Pa. J. H. Griffin, Moira, N. Y. The deaths of the following members have been re- ported : M. L. Conger, Collins Center, N. Y. John Dimon, Hartford, Conn. W^illiam Rodden, Plantagenet, Ont. E. Eewis Sturtevant, South Framingham, Mass. The general interest in Ayrshire cattle seems to be on the increase judging from the increased entries in the Herd Book and letters of inquiry for information in regard to the breed. J3 / t^ 4 The entries to Volume XI were 322 more than to Volume X, and the entries to Volume XII were 656 more than to Volume XI, showing a stead}^ increase during the last four 5'ears. A part of this increase however is in consequence of recording ancestors to stock brought out from Canada. There has been less complaint this past year from buyers of Canada stock in bringing out stock that was not eligible to record in the Ayrshire Record, for. the reason that buyers were more careful and as a rule did not move their purchases until they were recorded. Some that did not wait for their cattle to be recorded before starting, found they had bought stock that w^as not eligible and had to pay duty. , In some instances they found tney had bought stock that had been thrown out fro n the Canada Herd Books, and w^as not eligible to record in any Herd Book at the present time. The Canadians have amalgamated the tw^o Provin- cial Herd Books and I understand they are hereafter to record only such as trace to importation. There appears to be a good demand for Ayrshires in all parts of the country, and an unusual demand for bulls to cross on native and Jersey stock and of late, on the Holstein. The trend of public demand is more and more for just the kind of cow the A3^rshire Breeders are producing. For some time there has been a letting-go of the Holstein cattle among the milk producers for the Boston milk supply and the following, clipped from the Counhy Gentleman of last week's issue, shows the feel- ing in the state of New York : — The Holsteins Threatened. Eds. Country Gentleman — Unless the friends and breeders of Holstein cattle interpose some satis- factory objection, this meritorious breed will soon be eliminated from the herds of milk producers, wherever 5 the New York Condensed Milk Company has a factory. This company has declared Holsteins to be defi- cient in butter fats, and is determined to weed them out of their herds. Any milk producer whose herd is com- posed largely of these cows is certain to be crossed from its list in the near future. This decision has not been reached hastily. For several 3'ears there has been the low rumble of discontent, with an occasional note of individual warning. W'thin three months a number of herds of large milking Kolsteins have been thrown out of the Brewster factory, without preliminary notice, and their owners have had to seek a market in New York city. In the face of numberless tests inaugurated by the breeders, showing large and satisfactory secretions of butter fats, the milk producers are aggrieved at the arbitrar}^ action taken ; and are also led to doubt the sincerity of the company's discrimination. But after due consideration, the doubt is bound to shift to the breeders and testers, and they wuU need to bestir themselves to prevent the substitution of thous- ands from other breeds where the Holsteins are now established. How the breeders shall act is for their de- termination, although they are certain to have the aid and sympathy of the milk producers. Let it be under- stood that the State test and factorj^ test are not, or may not be, the same. The company is not bound b}^ any statutory test, having a test suited to its own idea of what the standard should be. It might be wise for the breeders to visit each fact- ory and examine the tests there made of Holstein herds. In that way they will be able to ascertain the standard to which they must bring their breed, or yield to the inevitable in having their "dreams in black and white" swept from a thousand fields in this State alone. The action of the New York Condensed Milk Com- pany is likely to be followed by other milk companies, for this company sets the pace, and the Holsteins will be relegated to the shambles, or to the beef sections of the West, where the}^ will be outclassed b}^ breeds al- ready on the ground. Brook Farm. The day of selling water in the name of cow's milk has passed, and with it is passing the Holstein, The Jersey cow is still the pet of the rich, and her owners still delights to visit her in frescoed barns or see her tethered on his luxuriant lawn, but the rank aiid file of the dair5"men are growing more and more tired of the tender Jersey and are looking for a cow of more sub- stance, that will give a good return for fair keep and moderate care, and they are turning towards the A3'r- shire breeders for bulls to cross on the unregistered and grade Channel Island cows. I was invited to attend the annual meeting of the Illinois Live Stock Breeders' Association held in Spring- field last November to present the Ayrshire cow, w^hich I did, and I was interested to see the eagerness to learn something of the breed, and the favorable remarks about her. It was very evident the public wanted some cow^ other than the Holstein or Jersey. I have written a number of short descriptive arti- cles on the Ayrshire cow for Western papers which I have sent with a cut of a cow, and have received many letters of inquiry to which I have sent our Year Book and such literature as we have had in the office. I think our plan of issuing a Year Book in an attractive form, with cuts of representative Ayrshires, and a his- tory of the breed with information of their dairy quality and such general information as the inquiring public want, is of great benefit to the general interest of the breed. If we could only obtain more, and new information about the dairy quality of the Ayrshire cow, it would greatly help in spreading the knov^^ledge of this useful cow. But breeders seem unwilling to test their cows 7 themselves or allow the Association to do it. The few herds we have tested strongly indicate that individual cows might be selected which are phenomenal in their yield of milk and butter. I believe the efforts of a few of the breeders in this direction for the past several years, have done much to popularize the breed. The United States is the only place where the leading Ayrshire breeders give prominence to utility as a dairy cow. In Scotland, in Canada, and to some ex- tent in the States, the decision at our leading fairs is more for a typical show cow than for any dairy quality the Ayrshire may have. It is said that in Scotland the prize goes to the cow who has the most queenl}^ way of walking and holds her head the highest, all of which is very well if you can have the milk and the butter to go with it, but non-essential points have injured many a good breed in encouraging the selection and building up of those characteristics in a dair}^ breed which are antagonistic to dairy excellence. TREASURER'S HENRY E. SMITH, IN ACCOUNT WITH THE 1898. Jan. 1. 1899. Feb. 1. 1898. Cash in Treasurer's hands Deposit in Citizens' Savin^js Bank, Provi dence, R. I , Deposit in SmithfieM Saving^s Bank, Green ville, R. I,, Sales of Herd-books Interest on Deposit Entries and Transfers asper Secretarj^'sacc't Milk Record Blanks Herd Books sold 9 Life Membership Fees " " $ 157 08 1,927 68 600 39 48 75 103 25 1,240 08 1 88 12 50 225 00 $4,316 61 REPORT. AYRSHIRE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION. 1898. [an. 26. June 1. 1898. 1899, Jan. 1. Expenses to Annual Meeting Postage Paper and twine Insurance on Herd Rooks..... As per Secretary's account:— Paid N. Y. Ex. Station for testing L, D, Stowell's herd for 1897, and Home Dairy test made January, 1898 Miss Bigelow, stenographer Prof. Van Slvke, ior lecture Plates ior 1898 Herd books Seal for A, B. Association Vermont State fair Butter-fat test Home Dairy test made July 5, 1898 Union Printing Go's bill Secretar3''s salary Secretary's traveling expenses Sundries, as per bill, including postage, ex- press, telephoning, etc Balance on hand Deposit in Smithfield Savings Bank, Green- ville, R. I (The Citizens' Savings Bank deposit having been transferred to it.) Cash in Treasurer's hands 19 30 3 59 50 15 00 10 45 20 35 48 00 18 26 4 00 25 00 13 65 164 65 400 00 98 20 54 15 3,421 51 $4,316 61 $2,631 32 790 19 $3,421 51 HENRY E. SMITH, Treasurer. This is to certify that we have this day examined this account of the Treasurer of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association for 1898, and find all correct, with proper vouchers. February 1, 1899. J. O. MAGIE. S. W. WELLS. 10 HOME DAIRY TE5T. TO THE AYRSHIRE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION, Gentlemen : — Your committee on Home Dairy Tests for 1898 would submit the following report. Soon after the Annual meeting of 1898, we issued the following circular : AYRSHIRE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION. HOME DAIRY TEST, 1 898. The officers of the A3"rshire Breeders' Association have for several 3'ears made many and varied offers and inducements to owners of A3'rshire cows to furnish re- liable statistics of the dairy yield of their cows, and find it very difficult to obtain them. The efforts of a few of the owners have revealed the fact that the Ayrshire cow has an undeveloped dairy capacity that if judiciously cultivated b}^ breeding and selection would undoubtedl}^ place her in the front rank as a producer of both milk and butter. The Association, for the purpose of making a still further attempt to obtain statistics, voted at its last an- nual meeting to authorize the "Dairy Committee" to conduct a Home Dairy test for seven consecutive days to obtain a week's record of quantity of milk, per cent, butter fat, per cent, total solids, and pounds of market- able butter for herds of five or more cows, to be reported singh^ and as a herd. RUEES OF TEST. Herds of five or more cows will be tested for the herd average and the individual records. Any breeder of Ayrshires may enter a herd of five or more cows, which shall at the time of entry stand on the books of the Association as owned by him. He shall, in making the entry, fill out a blank furnished by the Secretary, giving name and number of each cow, her age and w^eight, the number of calves she had pro- II duced, the date of birth of lavSt calf, and date of last service by bull since last calf was dropped. A state- ment, as accurate as possible, is requested of the method of feeding and care' for at least two wrecks previous to test, and during the test the kind and quantity of food consumed by the cows will be ascertained and recorded. The time of having the test made is optional with the owner, but notice must be given the Secretary at least one month previous that arrangements may t-e made for the test. The owner need not name the cows entered for the test until after the test is made, and may have as many of his cows tested as he chooses. The tests will be made as far as possible b}^ agents from the Experiment Stations, or some other disinter- ested and competent persons, w^ho will see the cow^s milked clean twelve hours previous to the beginning of the test, and will weigh and test the milk of each cow at each milking during the test, or he may test from a composite sample, being left optional and governed by the necessities of th^ case, but if he shall make a com- posite sample he shall place a seal on each jar of milk after adding to it. The test shall be made by the "Babcock Tester" and the "Quevenne Lactometer," and the quantity of marketable butter shall be calculated by the addition of one-sixth to the butter fat. It will be expected that persons entering herds for the Home Dairy Test wall entertain the agent while making the test, free of charge, and give him every facility for carrying on the test. C. M. WINSLOW, Sec'y, Brandon, Vt. J. D. W. FRENCH, No. Andover, Mass., Committee on Dairy Tests. The Secretary — In figuring the amount of butter from the butter fat obtained by use of the Babcock test, you will notice it is on the basis of an addition of one- sixth. We adopted this as it is the standard set b}' the 12 Experiment Stations of the United States. I under- stand the Holstein men figure theirs by the addition of one-fourth, while the private herd tests of the Jerseys are at one-fifth. We preferred to figure the Ayrshire by the most approved method, for while it does not give as much as the impossible method of the Holstein or the doubtful method of the Jersey, it does give an amount that is true and can be obtained b}^ an ordi- narily careful method of handling the milk and cream. This morning the Executive Committee voted to recommend to the Association that we continue these tests with the appropriation of an amount not to exceed $300 to pay for expenses, and voted in addition that in the butter fat test the exact amount oi the cost of the feed used, wnth a fair allow-ance for the pasture given, and that the report contain the cost per pound of the butter produced ; and also voted to recommend to the Associ- ation, as an inducement to breeders to test their cows, an appropriation of $100 in prizes, $50 for the first, $30 for the second, and $20 for the third. Mr. French — I move that the report be accepted and the recommendati6n adopted. Motion seconded and carried. Mr. Sears — I think we ought to provide for the Committee, I move that the same Committee, consist- ing of Mr. Winslow and Mr. French, be continued. Mr. Magie — Second the motion. Carried, with no opposition. The following herds were entered and tested in accordance with the above rules and the result is here- with given in detail : CHARLES C. DOE. I wish to enter the following herd of 5 cows, for the "Home Dairy Test" by the Ayrshire Breeders' Association. Date of birth Date of last No, of of bull service Name. No. Ag-e Weight calves, last calf. since calving NornaofBrooksidel3004 4 975 3 Mch. 20,'9S. Apr. 12,'98. Rose Lonsdale, 12780 3 975 1 Sept. 4. 97. Oct. 30, '97- RoseLastrea, 12786 3 975 1 Sept.ll.'97. Nov. 29,'97. Fannv Carston, 12772 3 1150 2 May 3, "98. June 15, '98. Katie Lome, 12792 2 850 1 Jan. 4, '98. Apr. 22, '98. 13 GENERAL METHOD OF FOOD AND CARE. In winter hay, ensilage once a day, bran and gluten meal twice a day. In summer, pasture and 2 lbs. bran ; stabled nightly. During test, NTos. 1, 2, 3 and 5, 2 lbs. bran 1 lb gluten; No. 4 4 lbs. bran, 2 lbs. gluten, in two feeds and pasture. (Signed) CHARLES C. DOE. South Newbury, July 29, 1898. Test made under the direction of the Vermont Experiment Station and conducted by P. S. Spaulding, June 22-28. Name Milk. Per cent, total solids. Per cent, fat. Lbs. fat. Lbs. butter, Norna of Brookside, 189. 12.61 3.74 7.07 8.25 Rose Lonsdale, 122. 12.97 3.91 4.77 5.57 Rose Lastrea. 109.5 13.59 4.37 4.78 5.58 Fanny Carston, 328.5 12.14 3.08 10.12 11.81 Katie Lome, 170. 12.70 3.68 6 26 7.30 919. 12.80 3.78 33.00 38 51 Average, 184. 12.80 3.78 6.6 7.75 The Secretary — While this test as a whole is not large in its result, it should be remembered that the cows are all young and that most of them are to calve soon. L. S. DREW. 1 wish to enter the following herd of 5 cows, for the "Home Dairy Test' ' by the Ayrshire Breeders' Association. No. of Date of birth Date of last bull ser- Name. No. Age. Calves. of last calf. vice since calving. Sadie Tascott, 11483 7 5 xVlay 8, '98. Miss Edna, 13218 3 2 May 14, '98. Miss Nellie 2d, 12642 5 3 May 15, '98. Hazel B, 10721 9 7 Mch.l8, '98. Roanette, 11476 7 5 April 1, '98. May 26, 1898. general method of food and care. Pasture, no grain. (Signed) L. S. DREW. South Burlington, Aug. 15, 1898. Test made June 5-11, 1898, by Vermont Agricultural Exper- iment Station. Name, Sadie Tascott, Miss Edna, Miss Nellie 2nd, Hazel B, Roanette, Milk. 269.25 238.25 279 50 257.50 248.75 Per cent, total solids. 11.97 12.49 12.70 12.43 12.38 Per cent, fat. 3.13 3.61 3.63 3.53 3 53 3.49 3,49 Total fat. 8.44 8.70 10.14 9.08 8.79 45.15 9.03 Total butter, 9.85 10.03 11.83 10.59 10.25 Average 1293.25 258.65 12.39 12.39 52.55 10.50 14 CHARLES H. HAYES & SONS. We wish to enter the following herd of 8 cows, for the "Ho-rae Dairy Test" b3' the Ayrshire Breeders' Association. Date of last bull servic since calving JtllT. Julv. Avk- 9. Sold Jtine 9, Name, Diatinalynne, Lady Murcia, Hessa, Cremation, No. 11109 11111 11924 12768 Date of birth No of of Age Weight calves, la^t calf. 1300 1200 800 1200 Cherry Blossom, 12389 Dot Cadmus, 11205 Morrocco, 13462 Drusa, 11929 April 27. Feb, 23. Mav 5. April 3. not served then. March 20, Jtme. A]jril 10. September , Nov.29,'97. Tan- 27/98. April 4. May 28. 4 1100 3 8 900 7 9 1300 8 7 900 6 GENERAL METHOD OF FOOD AND CARE. Cows have all the feed that is required. F'asture is poor^ supplemented with grain in surnmer. Winter t^^ed, bay, oat L-ed, ensilage, brewers* grains, fine feed and gluten^ mixed. (Signed) CHARLES H. HAYES & SONS. Portsmouth, N, H., Jan^iar^^ 17. 1899, Test made by C, May 24-30, 1898. D. Howard, for N. H. Experiment Station, Per ceot. F'er cent. Lbs. Plus 1-6 for Name. Mnk, total solids. fat. fat. lbs. butter. Diannalynne, 300. 12.45 3.55 10.66 12.44 Lady Vlurcia, 286. 12 77 3 60 10.24 11.94 Hessa, 219. 13 37 4.07 8.89 10.34 Cremation, 220. 13.12 3.93 8.61 10.05 Cherry Blossom, , 211. 12.65 3.75 7 89 9.20 Dot Cadmus, 199. 12.58 3 84 7.65 8.93 Morrocco^ 186.5 12.88 4.01 7.65 8.93 Drusa, 201.5 12.61 3.61 3.80 7.26 68 85 8-47 1823. 12.80 80.30 Average, 228. 12.80 3.80 8-61 10,25 GEORGE H. YEATON. I wisb to enter the following herd of 8 cows, for the Dairy Test" b}' the Ayrshire Breeders' 'Association. Home Date of birth Date of last Guess No of of bull service Karae. No-- Age Weight calves last calf. since calving Lad^' Fox, 9669 11 960 9 Ian. 4, '98. Biona, 12351 5 950 3 Dec. 6, '97. Jan. 20. '98. Lady Crescent, 11880 5 950 3 Oct. 18, '97. About Dec. 15. '97. Meewe, 11130 7 975 4 Mav25,'97. Dec. 22, '97. Clem, 11135 7 975 5 Apr. 4, '98. Xoa, 11469 6 975 3 Feb. 7, '98. Mar. 28, '98. Ouija, 11882 5 990 2 Feb. 16, '98. Olah, 11470 6 960 3 Jan. 30, '98. Mar. 7, 98. 15 GENERAL METHOD OF FOOD AND CARE. Fed ensilage t^^ice each day with what good hay they would eat once a day. Grain ration was mostly wheat-bran with a mixture of cotton seed, gluten and ground oats in about equal parts twice a day. Very cold water for drink. (Signed) GEORGE H. YEATON. Dover, N. H., April 21, 1898. Tested b\^ C. W. VicVery for New Hampshire Experiment Sta- tion, April 14-20, 1898. Name. Milk. Per cent, total solids Per ceiit, . fat. Total fat. Plus 1-6 for lbs b-uttei-v Lady Fox, 331 13.12 4.17 13 78 16.08 Biona, 275 9 12.40 3.48 9 60 11.20 Lady Crescent , 220 3 13.69 4.37 9.60 11.20 Meewe, 205 9 13 58 4.35 8.95 10.45 Clem, 238.7 14.25 5.20 12.12 14.14 Xoa, 314.9 12.50 3.76 11.81 13.78 Ouija, 269.6 12.40 3.42 9.31 10.86 Olah, 310.5 12.22 3.53 4.03 10.88 12.69 2168.8 13.02 86.05 100.40 Average, 258.6 13.02 4.03 10.76 12.50 REPORT OF THE COflMlTlEE ON FAIR=GROUND TESTS. In accordance with the instructions of tiie Associa- tion at its last Annual Meeting your committee pre- pared the following circular : SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Ayrshire Breeders' Association. Brandon, Vt., February i, 1898. The Ayrshire Breeders' Association offers a special premium, for the season of 1898, of $25.00- — $15.00 to first and $10.00 to second — to the two Ayrshire cows, registered in the Ayrshire Record, that shall score the highest from one da3'''s milking on your Fair Ground at the time of holding 3^our Fair, the butter fat not to fall below 3.70 per cent, butter fat as determined by the Babcock test and the award to be decided by the follow- ing i6 SCALE OF POINTS : For each 20 days since calvinsf, ----- 1 point " 15 da^'s of gestation, 1 " " pound of milk in 24 hours, - . - - 1 " *' ** butter lat in 24 hours, - - - 20 points Provided, however, that 3-our Fair Association will offer a like amount, making the whole premium offered amount to $30.00 to first and $20.00 to second, and that 3'our Fair Association take the full charge of the test- ing, and report the result to the Secretary of the A^^r- shire Breeders' Association. C. M. WINSLOW, Secretary. On March 5th a copy of the above circular was mailed to Illinois State Fair, Springfield, 111. Maine State Fair, Lewiston, Me. New England Fair, Portland, Me. New Hampshire Grange Fair, Tilton, N. H. New Jersey State Fair, Waverley, N. J. New York State Fair, Syracuse, N. Y. Ohio State Fair, Golumbus, O. Pennsylvania State Fair, Johnstown, Penn. Rhode Island State Fair, Cranston, R. I. St. Louis Fair, St. Louis, Mo. Vermont State Fair, White River Junction, Vt. The New England Fair and Vermont State Fair accepted the above offer and so stated in their Premium List. Cows were duly entered and tests made at both the above Fairs but your Secretary has not received the report of the New England Fair test. The Vermont State Fair reported five cows entered by C. M. Wins- low & Son, Brandon, Vt., and the result of the test was as follows : Name. Lbs. milk. Pel ■ cent. fat. T. otal fat Rose Erica, 27 5.2 1.40 Rose Deruth, 28 4.5 1.25 Rose Colbv, 24 4.9 1.17 Rose Elenore, 18 4.5 .82 Rose Carentine, 20 4. .80 Pi a 03 k ''-'^^^^^pttllw' ^^' •:^ "31^17 '/ ^7 Giving Rose Erica ist premium, Rose Derutli sd premium. Your Executive Committee voted to recommend to the Association the continuance of th^se tests, deeming that for the amount of money expended it g ave the Association valuable statistics and encouraged a high percentage of butter fat^ 1 would saj^ Here, that the expenses of the Association for the Fair Ground Tests for these Fairs was $25. Mr. French — I move that the prize for the Fair Ground Tests be continued. It seems most important to continue that, though comparatively few of the Fair Associations accepted the offer we made. It is a good plan to say to the F'air Associations of the country, yoU ought to encourage the people and the farmers not only to show stock for points but to show stock for their merits and for what the}^ do. As they say * 'Handsome is as handsome does," and 1 think I would continue that prize if not a single Fair Association accepted, simply because 1 believe it is holding Up the standard of what we ought to do and what ought to be done, and though next year there vshould not be a single entry, 1 would continue that offer throughout the coming ages. The Ayrshire breed can be divided into two classes, the butter class and the milk class. Not neglecting the milk, we want to breed for quality for the butter class; and if every breeder to-day, will, by the use of the Babcock test, set out with that idea of breeding after testing his cows to show the highest quality of butter fat, and breed from bulls out of cows that alwa3's have had that high quality— never less than 4 per cent, butter fat — I think that in a few years we should have a much higher standard as far as quality is concerned ; no association of men can stand still in this world unless they want to go backward — the thing for us to do is to reach forward and in the future as far as our breed is concerned simply carry out those ideas if we want to improve the breed and take the stand which the A3'r- shire breed ought to take. It can stand then in com- petition with any and every other dair}' breed. If we work on those lines for a few years w^e shall see the result without any doubt. I feel very strongly on this question. I am one ot the oldest breeders here, with the exception, perhaps, of Mr. Drew and Mr. Wells. I was present at the first organization of this society, and I have missed onl}'^ one meeting since, and I say this only to show the interest I have in the breed. I am still a breeder of Ayrshire cattle and hope to be as long as I live. Mr. WelIvS — I would move an amendment to sub- stitute 4 per cent, butter fat in place of 3 7-10. Mr. Sears — I would like to second Mr. French's motion. I think it is the opinion of ever}^ one who has ever kept a mixed herd, and among them Ayrshires, that there is no better cow in the w^orld, none that can give better receipts for the feed ever}^ da}^ in the 3'ear than an A3^rshire, none with stronger personality or better or more vigorous constitution. But there is one thing we lack, if we are going to sell the milk in the market, which we must have to make a salable article, we lack, as Mr. French saj^s, something in quality. The time was twent}' years ago when all that was neces- sary to sell milk in New York market was to have the quarts. Now 3'ou must have butter fat. The people are coming to be more particular and the dealers are pirtl3^ responsible for that. Now the only place in which 3-0U can find fault with an A3'rshire cow is in the qualit3^ of her milk, not in the total amount of the butter fat she will give, but she is so generous in the amount of the milk that the butter fat gets a little thinner than the market demands. The fact is, that this countr3^ has got so thoroughly supplied with everything it wants, that qualit3^ commands the market and without quality you cannot command it. The best things are now so 19 plenty ; the medium things are overstocking the market all the time. And if we can, and I know we can, add not only to the qualit}^ but retain the quantity of milk from the Ayrshire cow, I believe the child brought up on Ayrshire milk will take into its system some of the nervous energ}- that belongs to the Ayrshire cow, some of the ability to resist disease and the nervous activity that belongs to the animal itself, a vigorous constitution which will last all its life, and I know scmsthing about it, for I fed a boy on pure Ayrshire milk myself for a year or two. I think we want to go forward. We want to convince the public that the Ayrshire cow can give excellent milk as well as rich milk, and it is one great advantage in the Ayrshire milk that the fat is so nicely distributed, that it is a purer fat than if it was more easily separated. It is hard to make the public believe that, but the prominent physicians here in New York tell me that the time will come when they will want the fat in the milk and not on top as it is now. And I would second the motion of Mr. French to in- crease the quality as we have made every effort before to increase the quantity. And I would move that the same committee be continued in charge of the tests. Mr. WeIvIvS — Does this cover the amendment? The Secretary — If I may say a word on the amendment. Mr. French and I had long and serious discussions over the place to stop on percentage of butter fat. We thought we were getting it high, if we were to keep up the quantity as well as quality. An Ayrshire cow that would give 4 per cent, butter fat six months after calving, would as a new milch cow, give a high quality of milk if she gave 3 7-10 per cent, butter fat, and we did not wish to encourage a decrease of the quantity but to keep the quantity and preserve the quality. Now it seems to me if we place it at 4 per cent, we are going to have cows entered at the fair that are not what we would prefer. We would like to 20 Iia^'e new mflcli cows entered and we will compel them to show cows for this Fair test that are advanced in lactation if we raise the standard to 4 per cent. As it is now, it is left with the Committee to arange the quantity of butter fat. The Committee can put it at 4 per cent, if thought advisable^ but it was wnth a good deal of hesitation that we placed it at 3 7-10 per cent, butter fat. We thought perhaps we were shutting out a good many cows. I know" of some men who wanted to show their cows at the Fair and went there with their herds to show in the ring but did not show in the butter fat test because their cows could not qualify on a 3 7-10 per cent, basis. Mr. Wei^i^s — Pardon my ignorance, but I did not know there was such a change in the butter fat standing of a cow's milk. Mr. French-^I should hope that five or ten years from now we could very well make it 4 per cent., and per- haps later on make it 5 per cent. Let us look forward to such an ideal cow ; but just now, at this present time, when we are trying to lift the standard, I agree with Mr. Winslow that 3 7-10 per cent, is high enough, and just as soon as we can, I am sure he will agree with me, we will make it 4 per cent, so far as our Committee has to do with it. But the Committee cannot do that itself if the breeders in their own homes and on their own farms among their own cows do not have a standard high which will lead up to it. The Secretary — In this connection I would say, that two 3^ears ago we had entered at the New England Fair a large number of cows, and not one in that w^hole entry were eligible and the whole lot were thrown out. I know I said to Mr. French afterwards, "Hadn't we better lower that per cent, in order to get them in?" He said, "No, hold it right up, if they can't get there let them breed to it." The motion of Mr. French was voted unanimously and on motion of Mr. Sears the same committee were 21 continued for the coming year., viz: Mr. French and Mr. Winslow. REPORT OF PRIVATE TESTS OF HERDS. Your Secretary prepared and sent out the following set of questions to all known owners of Ayrshire cows in the United States and a few to Canadian Breeders. SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Ayrshire Breeders' Association. Brandon, Vt., Feb. i, 1898. In the general interests of Ayrshire Breeders, I would like to make a statistical report at our next Annual Meeting, and in order that I may have the material to work with, will you fill out the answers to as many of the following questions as possible and re- turn to me on or before January 10, 1899 ? C. M. WINSLOW. How many thoroughbred Ayrshire cows and heif- ers do you milk ? Is your herd used for the production of milk, butter or cheese ? Do you weigh the milk from your herd ? If so, how often ? What is the indi- vidual yield of your herd in Milk or butter ? (Gi\^e as full report as possible on separate sheet.) Do you make Babcock tests of the milk of your cows ? If so, give per cent, butter fat of each cow, and full statement of number of tests from which the average is obtained. What is the average yield of your herd in — Milk ? Butter ? Cheese ? What is your method of food and care ? In all reports of yields please state exactly how they are obtained, and use as little guess-work as possi- ble, for reliable statistics are of value, even though of less quantity than estimated yields, and the more fre- quently weights and measurements are taken the more value are the results. If you have any good photo- graphs of your cows, please send them to me, as we are greatly troubled to obtain good photographs from which to make half-tone cuts for illustration. C. M. WINSIvOW. 22 In aiiSAver to the above he has received the follow- ing replies : Geo. Bement, East Oakland, Cal., writes that of late there are a great many inquiries for Aj^rshires, more than he has known for five years, and that he has sold out. This herd was the noted Peter Coutt's herd that was picked up around Providence, R. I., some years ago and taken to California. F. M. Babcock^ Gouverneur, N. Y., keeps from twenty -five to thirty cows and heifers. Weighs and tests to satisf}^ himself as to individuality of cow, but gives no figures. W. H. Norton, Allentown, N. Y., keeps thirty-five cows and heifers. Sends milk to cheese factor}^ and has better returns than his neighbors. L. Banks- Holt, Graham, N. C, three cows, keeps no individual record. Estimates the}^ will give when fresh, from five to six gallons of milk per day and from five to nine pounds of butter per week. Average 14 to 1 6 quarts a da3^ sixteen cows, weighed monthl}-. Writes that Ayrshires sell well and are being hunted up, as they suit that climate. A. W. Hunt, Brunswick, Me., reports Dorothy Alaska as giving 7,300 pounds of milk in a year. B. Euther Shimer, Bethlehem, Pa,, fifteen cows, weighs milk about half the time and estimates a 3-ield of from 6000 to 9000 pounds in a year. Milk bottled and sold in town. Milk tests the highest of any sold in town and brings the highest price. Cows soiled in summer except a few hours morning and evening at pasture. In winter they are fed ha}^ and ensilage, with bran, oil meal and gluten meal, water has chill taken off. Thomas Turnbull Jr., Monaca, Pa., twenty cows, herd lately established, milk weighed at each milking and tested monthly, and tests 4.22 per cent, butter fat. C. E- Peck, Coudersport, Pa., ten cows, milk weighed weekl}^, average 4 per cent, butter fat. Esti- ^3 iriates his cows will average 7000 pounds of milk and 300 pounds of butter, C. H. Boynton, I^isbon, N. H., five cows, does not weigh or test. Howard Cook, Beloit, Ohio, eight cows, milk sent to cheese factory. Eight Ayrshires and four grade Ayrshires average 5,152 pounds as a whole for eight months at factory. Cows tested once and run from 3 per cent, to 4.5 per cent, butter fat. Miss Douglas S0265, gave 54 pounds of milk on gass with three quarts of bran extra, tests 3.60 per cent, butter fat. H. W. Cookingham & Son, Cherry Creek, N. Y., twenty- eight cows, milk weighed monthly, tests 4 per cent. Estimated yield, 6000 pounds of milk and 240 pounds of butter. Obadiah Brown, Providence, R. I., sends a copy of record of Flora Temple 3d, 402 : Cow -FLORA TEMPLE 3rd. Number 402. Dropped calf, April 25, 1874. Weight of cow, 1035 lbs. Greatest Least Qts. pef dailv daily Total Total Months. day. yield. yield. qts. lbs. May, 24 29^4 22 74.4.% 1582 June, 29 30% 28 870 1848%. July. 26 29 201/2 806 1714 August, 24V3 26 22 753V2 1601 1031/3 114% 92 y2 3173% 6745^ Average per day, 25 5-6. This is a true copy of the record kept by brother Joseph. OBADIAH BROWN. January 4, 1899. He also reports Manton Queen 4th, 6200, as giving 4.29 per cent, fat, 9.26 per cent, solids not fat, and 13.55 per cent, total solids, as tested by Geo. E. Perkins, State Assayer. This cow gave 49 pounds 5 ounces milk at the Madison Square Garden, May 14, 1887, winning first premium for largest quantitj^^ of milk in one day. She also has a private record of 12,162 pounds of milk in one year. 1892 1897. 1898. 9800 lbs. 7328 lbs. 70 78 lbs. 1896 64^3 5S20y2 6056 54: 5057 4882>^ 5281 V2. 72511/2 6531 VealeH calves 6159 H' 5493 5854^ (4 years) 5798 (4 years) 7034^ (4 vear?) 49911/4 24 Geo. H. Bowker, Barre Plains, Mass., fourteen cows, sends milk to Boston, does not weigh or test. A. G. Smith, Wellington, Ohio, fourteen cows, milk weighed at each milking : INDIVIDUAL RECORDS. Anna Douglas, 9069 Mari n S., Nettie V. 2d, Miss Zella, Anna Douarlas 2d, Anna Douorlas 4th. Stella S , not registered, Nettie V. 3d, As to feed, winter months, cut corn fodder and oat straw for noon and night feed, mixed hay for mornino^, about 3 lbs. of b an and 3 ts. corn and cob meal per day. Soft corn in fall takes the place of meal. No 3 and 6 bein": winter cows were fed Vs more grain. Summer fv.^ed, 1 to l}i lbs. of bran twice daily, just enough to b; ing them to barn. Care, housed from storms winters and change of pasture occasionally summers. Arden Farms Dair}^ Co., Arden, N. Y., twent}^ cows. Weigh milk occasionally, about two weeks and again three months after calving. Estimated 3aeld at that time about 40 to 48 pounds a day. Cows test from 3.80 per cent, to 4 20 per cent. Have tAvo hundred and thirty cows and none compare with the A3"rshires. N. E. Sears, Elmwood, Conn., seven cows. Is keeping a record of three, but 3^ear not expired, weighs milk at each milking. Official test for six cows in 1897, 3.99 per cent fat, 13.04 per cent, total solids. C. D. Sage, No. Brookfield, Mass., sixteen cows, milk sent to Boston, does not weigh or test. A. H. Fisher, St. Albans Hill, Vt., seven cows, manufacturers butter but keeps no records. Ira W. Jones, Alfred, N. Y., six cows, milk weighed weekly. The three that have completed a full 3'ear gave as follows : Belle Hebron, 13013, at 4 years old gave - - - - 9084 Nellie Clyde, 12723, at 4 years old gave - - 10507 Jennie Clydt, 12028, at 7 years old gave - - - - 8573 IvADY FOX. 9669. ^5 ^, J. Fletclier, Greenfield, N. H., ten cows, weiglis milk from three of the cows morning and night. Dur- wood, 12680, whose year is not through, has given over 9000 lbs., gave 5000 lbs. in four months, gave an average of 50 lbs. for 7 days. In April, when tested, she was giving an average of 34 lbs. of milk which test- ed 4.6 per cent. fat. After being in milk four months she is giving 36 lbs. daily on an average. Himotia, 13032, ^ave 8206 lbs., - - . 4 per cent. fat. Collinwood, 11404, gave 7800 lb?,, - - - 3.8 ~ S. C. Drew, Cuba, N. Y., twelve cows, weighs milk about once a week, mature cows average 52 lbs. a -day. Average test 4.20 per cent. fat. Wm. Stanford Stevens, St. Albans, Vt, , six cows, keeps no records. State Industrial School, Vergennes, Vt., fourteen cows, milk weighed at each milking, older cows average over 6000 lbs. A. A. Hunnewell, New Gloucester, Maine, 4 cows, milk weighed occasionall}^, estimate 7000 lbs. milk and 350 lbs. of butter in a year. Charles C. Doe, South Newbury, Vt., ten cows individual record for 1898 : Name. Maid of Killdrummie, 13973, Florence Douglas of Warren, 12999, Noma of Brookside, 13004, Edith of Brookside, 13871, Lady G, 13882, Fanny Carston, 12772, Rose Lonsdale, 12780, Rose Lastrea, 12786, Sarah Lome, 12779, Katie Lome, 12792, Average, 6035 3.64 2291/2^ Milk weighed at each milking. The percentage of fat is an average of tests made by the State Experiment Station. In summer the cows have pasture adjacent to barn with no grain during May and June. In winter, are fed hay and ensilage, 7 to 9 pounds of bran and gluten meal, watered once a day with cold water. Milk. Per Cfent. Butter. Butter fat plus 1-6, 3345.5 3.36 131. 5708 3.65 243. 4677 3.93 215. 5133.5 3.72 222. 5707.5 3.40 216. 7567 3.30 291. 7702 3 91 301. 6269 4.37 319. 6879 3.00 240. 7272.5 3.75 318. 26 A. H. Elliott, Garrattsville, N. Y., fifteen cows, milk weighed tw^o or three times during the 3^ear. The following is the result of a two day test b}^ the N. Y. State Experiment Station, Jul}^ ist and 2d, 1897 • Per cent. Per cent. Milk. Fat. Total Solids. Bonnie Beauty, 58,8 4.02 13.20 Bonnie B, 60.24 3.49 12.42 Princess P, 53.8 3.64 12.50 Bessie Primrose, 61.52 3 47 12.28 Daisy Primrose 2d, 56.22 3 68 12.75 Mina B, 66.2 3.79 12.58 Edith Primrose, 55.14 4.15 13.09 Nellie Primrose 2d, 57.24 3.09 11.84 Flossie H, 54.14 3.60 12 47 Jane Primrose 2d, 44.16 3.82 12.64 Lbs. ot Fat. 2.45 2.15 1 94 2.15 2.13 2.49 2.32 1.84 1.97 1.73 Hecla Farm, Uxbridge, Mass., eight cows Zell Douglas, No. 12014, 8234 pounds of milk in 358 days. Dolly Linwood, No. 12817, 8072 " " " 285 Hazle Kirk, No. 11450, 7700 " ' " 306 Flora Kirkwall, No. 12016, 7353 " " " 350 Zazel, No. 13588, 5861 " " " 310 Zell Russell, No. 12818, 5707 " " " 282 Trilby, No. 13598. 3699 " " " 179 Maid of Park Hill, No. 13590, 3054 " " *' 178 Average, 6209%. This herd has been well housed and cared for, they have been watered twice a day, fed on ensilage and poor hay, and have had a light grain ration ; 40 pounds ensilage, 6 to 8 pounds poor hay, 4 pounds shorts, 2 pounds corn meal and 1 pound gluten or cot- ton seed meal per day. I. E. HOLLIS, Superintendent. Charles H. Hayes & Sons, Portsmouth, N. H., Thirt}^ cows, milk weighed at each milking. Name Herd Book No. Age Lbs. milk Perct. butter fat Lbs. butter Fernleaf, 9467 6-9 8131 4.09 395 Murilla, 13376 8 7680 4.31 397 Marrionette, 9391 7-1 7607 3.31 302 Crowwood, 11101 5-10 7417 4.13 367 Clan wood. 11103 5-8 7199V2 3.65 315 Cuban Lass, 10158 6 6671 4.00 320 Diannalyne, March wood. 11109 lil04 4-5 5-8 6566 6436 not in 4.63 milk. 357 27 Daccyle, 9198 7-3 6280 not in milk. D irtha, 9194 7-7. 6265 3.54 266 Marcia— first ca li in 9 mos. 11111 3-8 6060 3.79 275 Collina, 9191 5898 Sold. Co mo, 9389 6-10 5719>^ Sold. Cadron, 10994 4-1 5685 4.42 301 Cheviot, 11108 4-9 5632 not in milk. Comla, 8396 10-4 5525 not in milk. Creolynti, 11107 5 5500 4.35 287 Morocco, 1346 2 4-2 50661/2 3.78 229 Extraction, 10999 3-11 4782V2 not in milk. Hersa— first calf in 8 mos. 101v57 2-11 4542)^ not in milk. Claret, 6586 12-6 4355>^ not in milk. Crimson— firs tcalf in 8 mos. 11207 2-11 4138 4.70 233 Comwood — fi rst calf in 5j4 m . 11000 3-10 3488 3.89 162 Twentv-five cows averasre 6432 lbs. Thirty cows average 6068 lbs. Average butter fat 4.06 per cent. Average lbs. butter, mature cows, 326. This is the first time we have tested the herd for butter and several cows are omitted. Comla, No. 8393, has averaged for eight ^^ears 6715 lbs. Fernleaf, No. 9467, has averaged for three years 7609 lbs. Lady Murcia with first calf in nine months 6060 lbs. Lady Clanwood, 11103, commencing with first calf, has averaged in two years 7710 lbs. Eva's Girl, No. 7309, has given 36,046 lbs. in seven 3'ears. Cherry of Portsmouth, No. 6685, has given 35,884 lbs. in seven years ; 1400 lbs. in 30 days ; 52i/^ lbs. in one day. Creole, No. 6593, gave 36,634 lbs. in five years. Crowfoot, No. 6595, gave 13,167 lbs. in four years, commenc- ing with first calf at two years of age. Maid of Arlis, No. 8395, gave 6755^^ lbs. as a three-year-old. Mary 2nd, has given 36911 lbs. in five years ; 70 lbs. in one day; 1500 lbs. in thirty days, and 98021/2 lbs. in one year. Lady Teazle, No. 6579, gave 15035;^ lbs. in two years. Queen Mary, No. 6578, gave 16643 lbs. in two years; 4031/2 lbs. in seven days; 1669 >^ lbs. in thirty consecutive days; 3192 lbs. in sixty consecutive days ; 5000 Its. in one hundred daj-s and 10580 lbs. in two hundred seventy-three days. 1885 Nine cows, four years and over, average 5908 lbs. Ten heifers, three j^ears old, average 5045 3-10 lbs. Five heifers, two years old, average 4683 2-5 lbs. 2^ 1886 Eighteen cows and heifers average 5942^^ Tbs, Five best cows^ average 8081 4-5 lbs. 1887 Seventeen cows average 6320y2 lbs. Five heifers with first calf, average 4451 lbs. 1888 Twentyfour cows and heifers, average 5895 lbs. 1889 Twenty cows and heifers^ average 5446 lbs. 1890 Twenty cows and heifers, average 5467 lbs. 1891 Twenty cows and heifers, average 5775 lbs. Seven best average 7001 lbs. 1892 Thirty cows and heifers, averaged 6001^^ lbs. In 1894 thirty cows and heifers averaged 5969 pounds of mitk. The best ten averaged,. 7301 " " In 1895 thirty cows and heifers averaged 5631 pounds of milk. The best ten averaged, 7403 In 1896 thirty-hix cows and heifers averaged 6434 The best twelve averaged^ 7262 The best five averaged, 8037 In 1897 thirty cowa and heifers averaged < 6567 The best sixteen averaged, 7289 The best seven averaged,. 8046 Lady Murcia, No. 11111, dropped calf P'ebruary 23, 1898, and gave in ten months 10820 pounds milk and is due to calve io March. Murrilla, No. 13336, eight years record, 6645 Diannalynne, No. 11109, six years record, 7767 Dainty Princess, No. 11433^ three first calves average, 7743 Clanw^ood, No. 11103, five years average, 7848 Comla, No. 8396, eleven years record, 7143 These yields are all correct as can be made by the scales, no guess work or estimation. Feed and care same as usual, or as others give their cattle, thcAT^ have about all that is required, and we try to get as much milk as possible without detriment to the GOW. C. S. Pixley, White Oak, S. C, nine cows. H. . B. No 11775 12249 11422 11428 13027 12247 13029 Potinds Milk, Per cent. Fat. 4760 4.4 2770 3.5 3685 5. 3168 4.4 2659 5.5 3106 4.6 3882 4.6 2196 six months. 4.3 Cows cared for by negroes who need improving. 29 Vermont Experiment Station, Burlington, Vt. 1895. Weight. Per cent. Milk. Total Solids. Per cent. Fat. Lbs. Butter. Rena Myrtle, 1100 11417 12.40 3.78 503 Acme 5th, 930 8092 12.94 4.05 382 Atalanta, 770 6639 12.62 3.85 297 Nancy B. 950 7831 12.88 3.90 356 Nett, 1020 8437 12.99 3.99 393 1896. Acme 5th, 930 8183 12.90 4.04 386 Atalanta, 870 7312 12.44 3.69 314 Nancy B, 1040 6068 13.08 4.06 287 Nett, 1000 6923 13.06 4.05 327 CM. Winslow & Son, Brandon, Vt., nineteen cows, milk record for 1898. Name No. Age Milk Test Butter Total Solids Clio Rose, 7525 14 7028 4.15 348 12.84 Rose Electa, 10336 9 7899 3.92 372 12.37 Rose Deruth, 10346 8 4802 4.50 259 12.94 Rose Deross, 10347 8 8084 4.48 452 13.22 Rose Cleon, 11143 7 8171 3.80 372 12.37 Rose Clenna, 11153 6 7117 6.00 512 12.92 Rose Allie, 11154 6 6729 4.05 327 12.63 Rose Ladye, 11158 6 6814 4.00 327 12.17 Rose Sultana, 12072 5 8907 3.88 386 12.25 Rose Veritas, 12076 5 7094 4.68 404 13.32 Lerea Douglas, Acelista, Rose Erica, lola Lorne, Rose Clovis, Rose Dyna. Rose Colby, Rose Elenore, Rose Levity. 12093 12094 12775 12773 12777 12782 12788 12791 12794 4 6149 4 8416 4 6581 4 8606 3 6936 3 7494 3 4393 3 5203 3 5637 3.31 4.02 5.20 4.60 4.64 3.15 4.90 4.50 3.80 244 406 411 474 386 283 258 281 257 12.47 12.59 12.37 13.57 13.30 12.24 12.39 13.16 12.91 Average Milk for the year 6956 pounds. Average Butter for the year, 353 pounds. Average per cent Butter Fat, 4.29 Average per cent. Total Solids, 12.74 Reynard 6038, a son c )f Lady Fox 9669, whose record is 12299 pounds of milk and 624 pounds of butter in a yeai •, stands at the head of the herd Sons of the following cows have stoo( i at the head of this herd : — Quess 2: nd, 3120 , record 14.7 butter i in seven days ; 50 DndiesR of Smithfield 4256, record 10748 pounds of milfc irr a year and 19.6 butter in seven days; Queen of Ayr 5th, 4466^ record 14331 pounds of milk; Manton Queen 4th, 6100, record 12162 pounds of milk, 4 29 per cent, butter fat and 13.55 per cent, total solids; Clio Rose, 7525^ record 8455 pounds milk» 441 pounds butter;; Lovely, 95'96, record 8765 pounds milkv 448 pounds butter; Rose Deross, 10347,, record 10645 pounds- milk, 572 pounds butter. Also iull brother to Rena Myrtle, 9530',. record 12172 pounds milk and 546 pounds butter in a j^ear. Best 365 consecutive daj^s'^ milk record of cows that have given 8000 lbs. or over. Name Rose Elles, Acorn, Myrtle Dell^ Alta Rose, Rose Cleon, Acme 5th, Rose LadyCy Rebekah, Lillian Douglas^ Acelista, Acme, Rose Clenna, Clio Rose, Avona, Bonnie Nannie 4thy Tola Lome, Lovely ; Miss Hesba, Rose Erica, Rose Sultana^ Roxie, Rose Deruth,^ Rose Alta, Rose Electay Ruth, Rose Eola, Rose Deross, Rena Myrtle, No. 9540 4492 3854 7521 11143- 10342 11158 4496- 1105S 12094 5075 11153 7525 4494 11701 12773 9596 10433 12775 12072 4498 10346 9529 10336 4816 8510 10347 Milk 8000 pounds, 8031 8068 8143 8171 8183 8194 8338 8351 8416 8436 8438 8455 8476 8507 8606 8765 8766 8864 9172 9191 9253 9307 10207 10219 10323 10645 12172 of cows 9530 Best 365 consecutive daj^s' butter record that have given over 300 pounds. Name. No. Butter." Alta Rose, 7521 304 pounds. Rose Ethel, 11148 313 Roxie, 4498 316 Rose Laross, 12081 316 Rosalena, 8502 318 Avona, 4494 326 Ladv Avondale 3rd, 2625 346 Rebekah, 4496 347 31 Hesper, 8528 ^55 Rose Cleon., 11143 •372 Lillian Douglas, 11058 374 Miss Hesba, 10433 376 Bonnie Nannie 4th, 11701 -381 Acme 5th, 10342 386 Rose Clovis, 12777 •386 Rose Dernth, 10346 589 Rose Veritas, 12076 404 Queen Selga, 9545 -404 Rose Allie, 11154 '405 Acelista, 12094 406 Rose Alta, 9529 420 • Rose Sultana, 12072 421 Ruth, 4816 425 Clio Rose, 7525 441 LoYel3% 9596 448 Rose Ladye, 11158 463 Rose Electa, 10336 467 lola Lome, 12773 474 Rose Erica, 12775 504 Ren a Myrtle, 9530 546 Rose Deross, 10347 572 Rose Clenna, 11153 607 NINKT.KEN years' MIL^X RECORD. In 1880, 10 cows averaged 6035 pounds 1881, 11 n it 6176 it 1882, 9 it ti 6672 ■it 1883, 15 t< n ■6168 ti 1884, 16 (I ti -6814 ■tt 1885, 11 il n 7025 a 1886, 16 a " 6238 ti 1887, 16 ii <( 5782 ti 1888, 16 i( n 6356 u 1889, 15 4( n 5836 >las, 242 Maid of Keeserille, 331 Marionette, 347 Grand Duchess, 211 37 From January i, 1896, to January i Name. Reg. No. Age. Marionette, 9391 10 Kirk's Printsteps, 11703 4 Lady Smithfield 3d, 12724 3 Lady Acme, 11340 5 From January i, 1897, to January i. Name. Reg. No. Age. Marionette, 9391 11 Myra Douglas, 11056 8 Lady Smithfield 2d, 10824 7 Lady Smithfield 3d, 12734 4 Kirk's Printsteps, 11703 5 Fernwood, 12258 4 Lady Acme, 11340 6 Kittie H., 10541 8 Maid ofKeeseville, 12315 5 Ditto, 12260 4 1897. Days. 330 331 307 346 1898. Days. 300 265 302 345 308 287 311 291 350 295 Lbs. 7235 6270 5512 5353 Lbs.- 7825 6984 6945 6371 6160 6125 5973 5861 5830 5374 Milk and butter record of George H. Yeaton's herd of Ayrshires, Hickory Hill Farm, Rollinsford, N. H. Post office box, 402, Dover, N. H. From January i, 1898 to January i, 1899. Name. Herd Book No. Age in years. Pounds of milk. Per cent. of butter fat. Po-cnds of butter. Lady Fox, 9669 11 11619 4.33 587 Biona, 12351 5 10024 3.53 413 Olah, 11471 6 8806 3.52 361 Ouija, 11882 5 8561 3.42 342 Yuba Lass, 12353 4 8310 3.75 / 374 Xoa, 11469 6 8254 3.90 377 Annie Bert, 9670 11 7697 3.88 347 Meewe, 11130 7 7457 4.35 379 Mexic, 11131 7 7330 3.70 326 Yucca, 11470 6 6951 4.00 327 Phronsie, 12359 4 6872 4.40 353 Miss Reynard, , 10666 8 6778 4.24 335 Rayn, 12358 4 6481 3.54 268 Yensie, 10663 8 6436 3.95 297 Oke Mar, 13307 2 6130 4.35 313 Gladiola, 12352 5 6171 3.68 261 Lukolela, 12357 4 5997 3.71 260 Gano, 10664 8 5963 3.70 256 Molly Meade, 10661 9 5843 3.97 270 Freda, 11134 7 5720 3.76 251 5^ The following are tEe records of cows that have given seven thousand pounds of milk in 365 consecutive days. Name of Cow^^ Ladv Fox,. Meewe, Biona, Annie Bert^ Yucca, Xoa^ Olah, Lukolela^ Gano, Mexic, Ouija, Yuba LasSy Okeoeola, Wallula, Lady Crescent,. Jeanette Guelph, Clem^ Ursuline, Freda, iMolly Meade, The following cows ©1 butter and over in by the Babcock Test Name of cow.. Lady Fox, Meewe, Yucca, Xoa, Mexic, Annie Bert, Biona, Olah, Wallula, Ouija, Lukolela, Ladv Crescent, Clem, Gano, Okeoeola, Yuba Lass,. Molly Meade, Miss Reynardy Y'ensie, Jeanette Guelph, Freda, Eolus, Wauffh, Book number of cow, 9669 11130 1238S 9670 11470 1146^ 11471 12357 1G664 11131 11882 1235S 8413 9726 11880 867a 11135 12360 11134 10661 Pounds of milk. 12299 11252 10024 96ia 949a 9232 9020 8678 863G 8581 8561 8310 8023 792& 7539 7470 7227 7162 7150 7139 have made three hundred pounds 365 consecutive days as determined Herd Book No, 9669 11130 11470 11469 11131 9670 12353 11471 9726 11882 12357 11880 11135 10664 8413 12353 10661 10666 10663 8673 11134 11128 11467 Pounds of butter, 624 567 444 423 419 417 413 412 389 381. 378 375 374 372 364 348 337 335 333 332 326 310 303 39 Five years' butter and milk record. Per cent, of butter fat. Pounds of butter. Pounds of milk. In 1893, 12 cows averag^ed 4.02 270 6125 In 1894, 24 4.24 270 5501 In 1894, 12 4.49 328 6493 In 1895, 22 4,03 329 7144 In 1895, 12 4.22 383 8386 In 1896, 25 3.99 316 7006 In 1896, 12 4.28 378 8216 In 1897, 23 3.92 327 7164 in 1897. 12 4.14 375 8159 In 1898, 20 3.88 332 8220 In 1898, 12 3.92 377 7370 The railk from each cow of this herd has been tested at several different times during the year, by the '■'Babcock Tester," and the per cent, of butter fat for each cow is the average of these several tests made. The amount of butter is computed by adding one- sixth to the amount of butter fat, which is the formula adopted by all the Experiment Stations of the Country. REPORT OF RAIUROAD COnfllTlEE. Your committee, appointed at the last Annual Meeting to communicate with other live stock associa- tions in regard to excessive Rail-Road rates on live stock in less than car load lots, would respectfully report that we issued the following circular letter which we sent to each of the live stock associations of the United States, forty-four in alL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, ayrshire breeders' association Brandon, Vt., 189 To the Secretary of the Dear Sir : Complaints have been made by some of our breeders that the Rail Road rates for transportation of Cattle were so excessive as to seriousl}^ hinder their sales in small lots. It is probably a fact that a united effort on the part of all the Stock Breeding Associations would have its 40 influence in securing a more satisfactor3^ rate where it is too high and needs regulating. Have any such complaints come to 3^ou from any breeders in 3^our Association, and would j^ou think it wise to make a united effort for uniform and reasonable Rail Road rates for shipment of thoroughbred stock for breeding purposes ? The roads complained of are the D. L. & W. R. R. of New Jersey and the New York Central. What would 3^ou suggest in the matter and do 3^ou think it advisable to bring it before 3^our Association at your next Annual meeting ? Ver3^ trul3^ C. M. WINSI.OW, Secretary of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association. In response to the above we received seven replies, some stating that no complaint had been made to their Association, others stating that theA^ had tried to obtain lower rates but without effect and did not think it wise to attempt it again. J. D. W. FRENCH, 1 Committee on C. M. WINSLOW, 3 RailRoads. On motion of Mr. Wells the report was accepted, the Committee discharged and the matter was dropped. On motion of Mr. French the Association proceeded to the ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected b3^ unanimous votes : President, L. S. Drew, South Burlington, Vt. Vice-President, Obadiah Brown, Providence, R. I. B. C. Sears, Blooming Grove, N. Y. H. R. C. Watson, New York, N. Y. *' John Stewart, Elburn, 111. Secretary and Editor, C. M. Winslow, Brandon, Vt. Treasurer, Henry E. Smith, Enfield, R. I. Executive Committee for three years, Charles H. Hayes, Por1:&mouth, N. H , J. Andrew Casterhne, Dover, N. J. Executive Committee to fill unexpired term of the late John Bratton, John W. Scott, Austin, Minn. Editing Committee, J. D. W. French, No. Andover, Mass., C, M. Winslow, Brandon, Vt, NEW MEHBERS. The following names were proposed and duly elected as life members upon paj^ment of the membership fee. John W. Scott, Austin, Minn, WilHam Jay, Katonah, N. Y. Newman E. Sears, Elmwood, Conn. George Davidson, Fairfax, P. Q. Howard Cook, Beloit, Ohio. George W, Knowlton, West Upton, Mass. Franklin Doane, Middletown, N. Y. Edward Kemp, New York, N. Y. E. A. Schouten, Cortland, N. Y. EXPERT JUDGES. The following list for Expert Judges at Fairs for 1899, was approved and ordered sent to the leading Fair Associations of the United States, Alonzo Eibby, Westbrook, Maine. Charles H. Hayes, Portsmouth, N. H, George H. Yeaton, Dover, N, H. W. R. Garvin, Dover, N. H. E. S. Drew, Burlington, Vt. F. W. Spalding, Poultney, Vt. H. R. C. Watson, Brandon, Vt. C. M. Winslow, Brandon, Vt. J. D. W. French, No. Andover, Mass. George A. Fletcher, Milton, Mass. 42 Obadiah Brown, Providence, R. I. Henry E. Smith, Enfield, R. I. H. S. Joslin, Mohegan, R. I. Dudle}^ Wells, Wethersfield, Conn. S. M. Wells, W^ethersfield, Conn. J. H. Earned, Putnam, Conn, B. C. Sears, Blooming Grove, N. Y. George Taber, East Aurora, N. Y. A. S. Tubbs, Mexico, N. Y. C. S. Barney, Milford, N. Y. Frank Converse, Woodville, N. Y. J. D. Magie, Elizabeth, N. J. William Eindsay, Elizabeth, N.J. B. Euther Shinier, Bethlehem, Pa. H. Hayward, State College, Pa. J. P. Beatt}', Pataskala, Ohio. John Stewart, Elburn, 111. C. S. Plumb, Eafayette, Ind. Frank A. Eovelock, Eynchburg, Va. A/VIENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. The Secretary — Since our Annual Meeting of la^ year I received a letter from the managers ot the Omaha Exposition wishing some action of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association, and I had to reph' to them that our Annual Meeting for the \'ear had been held and that we had no provision in our Constitution for calling a special meeting, and it seemed to me w^ell to call the attention of the Association to this fact, and it is rec- ommended by the Executive Committee that our Asso- ciation amend its Constitution as follows : It is recommended b}^ the Executive Committee that Article IV of the Constitution be amended b}^ in- serting after the words ' 'for the ensuing 3^ear' ' — "Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President or b}' the Executive Committee or at the 43 written request of ten members. Twenty days notice must be given and the object of the meeting announced in the call, and no business, other than that specified in the call, shall be transacted at the special meeting. Time and place shall be determined in same way as Annual Meeting. Also Article IX shall be amended by inserting the word "Annual" between the w^ords "any" and "meet- ing," making it read — At any Annual Meeting of this Association. Regulation IX. After the words "at time of entry" shall be inserted a clause, "The age limit of Imported animals shall be reckoned from date of their admission at the U.S. Custom House. The Secretary — Mr. President and gentlemen : In explanation of this picture of the cow. Duchess of Smithfield, I would like to read this letter from Major Henry K. Alvord : U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUI.TURE, BUREAU OF ANIMAI. INDUSTRY, DAIRY DIVISION. Washington, D. C, January 12, 1899. C. M. Winslow Esq., Sec. Am. Ayrshire Breeders' Association, Brandon, Vt. Dear Sir : For some time this Department has had under consideration the practicability of getting up colored pictures of typical animals of the different breeds of live stock, without involving too much expense. lyately we have hit upon a new three-color process of reproduction which costs not more than one-third as much as lithographing and promises to answer very well in some cases As an experiment we have had a portrait of the Ayrshire cow Duchess of Smithfield painted in oil by J. W. Hills of Ohio, the artist depending upon a good photograph by Schreiber for his likeness. Herewith I 44 send one copy of the print, taken at random from sev- eral thousand that we have, to show 3^0 n the result. I would like very much to have you examine it and give me 3^our opinion of it. At first glance 3'OU will say that the color is wrong and gives the impression of a purple rather than a reddish- brown. But 3'OU taust treat this print just as 3^ou would the oil painting from w^hich it is reproduced. It must be set off at some distance and subjected to- suitable light. And this being done I think you will find the effect much more satisfactory. As far as the outline and detail is concerned, this process is much more accurate than lithography, because it is an exact photographic reproduction of the painting. Of course criticism of the latter may be in order. As to the process itself, the main question is whether by any combination of red, blue and 3^ellow, we can attain satisfactory results. At your convenience please tell me just what 3'ou think about this, and especially whether you think it is a sufficiently accurate portrait of this celebrated cow, and enough better than a black and white likeness, to be used by this Department in one of its publications. And while writing, will 3^0 u not kindly give me a little sketch of the cow herself ? Where and b3^ whom was she bred, when dropped, who were her successive owners and when and where did she die ? Also how" many generations was she removed from importation ? And; where can I find a record of the dairy performan- ces of the cow herself, or of other cows closely akin to her among ancestors or progen3^ ? I hope I am not troubling you too much in this matter, but I do not know where else to go for the in- formation I want. If 3^ou would like to have the original oil portrait from which this picture w^as made, to place on exhibi- tion at the coming Annual Meeting of your iVssociation 45 in New York, I will be pleased to loan it to you for that purpose, and will send it by express, prepaid, in such shape that you can return it, without expense, immedi- ately after your meeting. All I shall ask in return wdll be that some competent person or persons would give us a written criticism of the picture, both as a likeness and from an artistic point of view. Hoping 3^ou are well this winter, and with my best wishes, I am, Very respectfully vours, HENRY E. ALVORD, Chief of Dair}^ Division, This was from a photograph that I sent him in con- nection with a number of others at his request some time ago. I replied to that letter stating that Duchess of Smithfield was bred by Henry E. Smith of Enfield, R. I., sold to Mr. Watson of West Farms, N. Y., and was tested by the Association in a competitive test for a prize, and saying that I believed it was an accurate test, that she gave 426 1-2 lbs. of milk in seven days, and that Mr. Watson claimed he had made 19 lbs. 6 ozs. of butter from that milk ; that she gave in that year on Mr. Watson's statement of the w^eight of the milk, 10,748 lbs. of milk ; that she was seven removes from importation, and was from the "Hester" family that was established by the late Joseph F. Brown of Providence, R. I., and traced to Mary, 3661, imported from Scotland to Frederickton, N. B., by Robert Gray. Her descendents w^ere sold to go to Maine, and from there to Rhode Island, and that I should be pleased if he would send the painting and we would try to appoint some one to send him a statement of what we thought of this w^ork. Mr. Chairman, I w^ould move that the Association appoint Mr. French, Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown a Committee to examine this painting and write Mr. Alvord. I would also move that if Mr. Watson comes in before the meeting adjourns, that he be added to the Committee. 46 Mr. Henry E. Smith — I might be prejudiced in that matter. The Secretary — I think Mr. Smith is just the man to be on the Committee, because the}^ wantto know if that is a correct and perfect picture, and there is nobody so well qualified to judge of that as Mr. Smith who bred the animal, Mr. Brown and Mr. French who knew the cow. Motion seconded and carried. Mr. Wells — I would like to ask if it is always necessary to have the water color made first. The Secretary — I understand from this letter that it is a new process that costs much less than litho- graphing, and he claims in this letter, is more accurate and cheaper. I understand this picture is a reproduc- tion of the painting. Mr. Wells — As I understand it then, the accurac}^ of the picture depends entirely upon the skill of the artist. The Secretary— Mr. Chairman, we have present with us here today, by courtesy of good feeling, the President of the Jersey Cattle Club, Mr. Darling, and Mr. Fuller who is connected with the Jersey cattle in- terests, and I would like to present them to the Associa- tion. I take their coming here, as an act of courtesy. There has alwa3^s been a good feeling between cream and milk. The Ayrshire cow and the Jersey cow have never been antagonistic. Mr. French— I move that we hear from the gentlemen who have favored us with their presence. Seconded and carried. Mr. Darling — I am ver}^ pleased to accept your invitation to be present at this meeting, and, as a repres- entative of the American Jersey Cattle Club, I wish to say that there is a very good feeling between us, and in return for the invitation to be present here I would, on behalf of the Club, ask you all to be present at our meeting which occurs the first Wednesday in May. 47 Mr. Fuller Tiere is the ornamental member, and I pre- sume he can say something that will entertain )^ou. Mr. FuLiyKR — I do not know that I can add any- thing to what my worthy brother has said, except to give voice in stronger terms than he my expression of the pleasure it gives me to be among breeders of dairy cattle. We are all aiming at the same object— the im- provement* and good of the country— by introducing a a better breed which we believe will help the farmers and dair}^ interests of this cou.itry. You, in your wis- dom, believe the Ayrshire the proper breed ; we, in our wisdom, think the Jersey is the proper one. We are all aiming at the same object. We introduced into this •country a breed for the dairy farm and the farmers of the country, the best that our wisdom and fair judgement can produce. We all desire the improvement of the dairy breed of the country, and on behalf of the Jersey Cattle Club I wish you every success in the noble work which your Association is doing. Mr. Sears — I would like to say from actual ex- perience that there is no better cross of cattle in the world than the Jersey and the Ayrshire breeds. The blood seems to mingle very nicely, and to bring about good results. I think there must be some real affinit}^ between these breeds, Mr. Wells — For the best results, I would like to ask on which side should the male be ? Mr. Sears — Generally on the Ayrshire. The Secretary— I have a report here of private tests of herds which will appear in the report of this meeting, and it shows that very few of the Ayrshire men keep continuous and careful records. We brought this up with a view of encouraging the breeders to keep stable records by weighing the milk and by testing with the Babcock test. The trouble with the Ayrshire cow is not that she is not a good cow, but that nobody knows it. There are very few breeders in. this country 48 who test their cows or weigh the milk. The majority sa}^ that they have such a number of cows but never make any tests. I hope the time will come when the dair}^ individualit}^ of the best Ayrshire cows will be better known, so that a breeder who washes to improve the dair}^ quality of his herd can do it understandingly b}^ selections of bulls from cows with authenticated records. There are but ver}^ few breeders of Ayrshires who know^ either the quantity or quality of the milk from their cows. Dr. Turnbui.1. — I am very glad to be here. I am a member of the Association and a young breeder. About thirteen months ago I started out to get a few cattle. I knew absolutely nothing about cattle, except that there w^ere cows, — red cows, black cows and yellow cow^s. I had a small place in the country. I had on the place a couple of Shorthorn cows of strictly dairy type, remarkably good too, persistent milkers, large producers with an average butter fat of 4 7-10 per cent. I looked around for another breed of cattle which would suit the purpose — I wanted them for the retail milk trade, and I heard something about Ayrshire cattle ; but when I came to inquire I found almost nothing. No advertise- ments, no literature. I managed to get hold of one or two English works which mentioned Ayrshire cattle. I made inquiries elsewhere and finally I managed to come across some breeders, and to, make a long story short, I purchased some A3^rshires, and w^as very much pleased with them. I purchased some more, and have contin- ued purchasing until today, with ni}^ original purchase, the first of which w^as mace one year ago today, I have about thirty-eight head of A3ashire cattle. For the last nine months now we have been making frequent tests. I had the State Experiment Station send a man down who made a week's test of eleven head. The}' ran over 4 percent, butter fat, the total solids ran over 13 percent. That was just what I wanted — a milk in good quantity 49 running 4 per cent, of butter with 13 per cent, total solids. Since then I have been asking every breeder I met how often he tested. Ver}" few of them have tested at all ; some have relied on the creameries for their tests. Some said, "we never test. We do not know the per cent, butter fat, I think I have onlv come across four breeders who have tested their herds and they have all been 4 per cent. fat. Now we have a cow of the dair}^ type, — recognized dairy type. I was so glad when our friends the Jersey breeders said they were breeders of dairy cattle. We are, but we should tell the public what we have. If we do not, we can go on breeding, and we will be standing just w^here w^e are. In order to breed a better thing then, we must know what we have. You might get a cow of remarkably fine type, and she might only give 3 3-10 per cent. milk. If j^ou are out for the business end of it, if you are in the business for dairy cattle, you have got to take the cows with the highest production of fat contents, and you have got to breed from them. You have got to keep records of the milk and make frequent tests. On my farm we weigh every drop of milk every day. We make daily tests of the whole herd and two monthly tests of each individual cow. We know what we have. I went out knowing nothing at all about Ayrshire cattle, but I have twent}^ head that I am milking now that will average on the daily tests over 4 per cent, butter fat. Now if w^e advertise and let people know what we have, we can boom the herd and we can make sales. Inquiries are coming in from all directions from men w^ho want to find out more about Ayrshires. You have heard the letter which I sent to the Secretary, and the one from the National Stock Farm. Now we ought to advertise and keep records and advertise the records to let the people know what we have. The report of the tests of Mr. L. S. Drew's herd shows that we have a strictly dairy type of cattle, and it is just such matter as shows, 50 convinces and sells. I was up in Toronto at the exposi- tion last fall. It vias a magnificent show of A3'rshires up there, — nine herds exhibited — but there was not one breeder there who knew the fat contents of his herd. They w^ould saj^ "Yes the}^ are big producers." "Well, what percent, butter fat?" "Don't know, probably about 4 per cent." Now that "about 4 per cent." has been handed dowm from generation to generation. We can show" it and the onh' thing that will show" it is daily or monthly tests. Then we can go before the public and say, we have a strictly dairy type of cattle and this is what we are doing. But I do not think the members of the Association are advertising nearl}' enough. I have inquir}^ after inquiry" : "Can you sell me so-and-so. If not, do 3"ou know who has them for sale ?" I wrote to the Secretary that it might be a good thing to have a kind of clearing house. We have not all enough cattle to fill an order. I know an officer today of an Institu- tion in Pennsylvania who w^ants to bid on seven head of A3a'shire cattle. They are hesitating w"h ether they want Holsteins or Ayrshires. I have written some breeders asking them if they had the seven head for this inquiry. I have not come across one who has. But if we had a clearing house, where we could put in every month the cattle w^e had to sell, or what we are willing to sell, they could advertise that they had the A3'rshire cattle continually on sale and that they were the author- ized sales agents of the Association. If that could be done, it would reduce the cost. Say each member put in five cows, or he could report monthly what he has for sale. It would make but a little herd to be organized at first, but it could be done ; and it is either that, or each man advertising for himself if he has any — know- ing what he has. I have inquiries quite frequently asking me w^hat m}^ herd produces, what is the average production, and when we can advertise that, then we can answer these inquiries better. I wall say for myself, 51 that in the advertisements which I have put in all the Dair3^men, I have put in the official State test of m}^ herd and it has brought me a great man}^ inquiries. I have had inquiries for Ayrshires from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Northern New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Wells — I have an abundance of correspon- dence from people who are inquiring about A3^rshires and wanting to buy much cheaper than I can afford to sell, and the}^ write me that they have been offered herds for $30 to $35 and less, but I do not care to sell at these prices. It is hard work to keep up ray own herd and it is not necessar}^ to advertise much. If I get a little overstocked, five or six lines two weeks in the Conntiy Gentleman will bring me all the orders I want. I appreciate the necessity of having tests made of the milk frequentl}^ My herd has been tested now for the last year ever}'- month and have averaged over 4 per cent for six months and over 13 per cent of solids. I do not make a large record of milk. It is quality I am after. I know many of the herds in Canada and some of them I know give a very high standard of tests and butter fat. I have seen them tested and I know some of them go as high as 4 8-10 per cent, butter fat, and man}^ of the animals in Canada average, I think, a larger yield than ours. The Secretary — Of course every one wants to bu3^ a good thing as cheap as possible, but I think the buyers who will stop buying A3^rshires because a fair price is asked are not desirable customers. I received a letter from St. Paul, Minn., last year from Mr. James J. Hill, asking me if I could send him a carload of Ayr- shires from my herd and what the3^ would cost. I wrote him I could not spare a carload but I thought he could get a carload from breeders in New England. He had bought a carload of cattle from Canada and wanted a carload from New England and sent an agent to 52 Dover and Portsmouth to look but did not close a trade, and wrote me again in the spring asking if I would go and look at the cattle his agent had looked at and buy them. He thought he ought to pay about $75 per head. I looked at the $75 cattle, and also at some others, and found the cattle I should feel satisfied to ship to the West would cost more than $75 a head, that I would have to pay $200 a head for some that I should be satis- fied to send to the West and stand side by vside in com- petition with his Canada cattle. I wired him what they would cost him. Should I bu}^ or go home ? He wired back "Buy as low as 3^ou can." I paid all the way from $75 for two-year olds up to $200 for some very choice Ayrshires and shipped them, and I understood afterwards, that when placed side by side with the Canadian herd they w^ere the best and cheapest cattle he had bought. Now I do not believe much in low priced cattle. If a man comes into 3^our stable and wants to buy low priced cattle, sell them to him if you wish, but there are men who appreciate a good thing, and there are men who want to buy good stock and wnll pay a fair price, and that is the kind that Dr. Turnbull wants to have come to his herd, that is the kind I want to have come to my own herd and the kind Mr. Wells w^ants to have come to his, and I think, from the remarks I have heard all around, that this kind of cattle are scarce and buyers are plenty. I have no trouble in getting a good fair price for a gooa animal, and I think all breeders will tell you the same, and the best are the cheapest. There are plenty of men who, when they start a herd, w^ant to start from the best and are walling to pay a fair price. Of what conse- quence is a difference of $5, $10, $100, or fcoo, between choice animals and ordinary ones in la^'ing the founda- tion of a herd for a lifetime. It does not count for much when divided through all that time with all the stock 53 3^ou breed. We must start at the top to get an3^where. People do not live today to be as old as Methusalah. If a man today could be guaranteed 999 3^ears of life, lie could perhaps, start at the bottom and he might live long enough to get to the top. But I tell you today, in these days of electricity he must start at the top and do quick work and do it hastil}^ in order to get anywhere, and if a man wants to buy such stock he has to pay for it. When I started my herd, twenty-five j'-ears ago, I selected the best I could find and have alwaj^s bred as well as I could from the best I could find. I have bred for the very best qualities. I believe the breeders who are testing their cattle for 4 per cent, butter fat and 13 per cent, solids need not sell anything for $35 or $40. If a man will show a customer in a wa^^ that will satisfy him he is telling the truth, that he has a cow that will give 4 per cent, butter fat and 13 per cent, solids and 12,000 lbs. of milk per year, he will give his price for her calf because he wants it and cannot afford to do without it. There are very few men who are doing it, but the few men will make money, Mr. Sears — I am sorry the Secretar^^ does not know where those men are. I wanted specially to raise cows for them. Mr. Wells — In starting my herd I paid $400 apiece for two heifers, I paid $1,350 for a cow and two calves in Canada, and they are really the only animals I ever made any money on. Mr. French — I move that the salary of the Secre- tary be made the same as last year. The Secretary — Mr. Chairman ; I appreciate 3^our kindness, and as long as the Association was laboring along in difficulty, I was satisfied to throw in a good deal of time — it takes about all my time as there is a large correspondence connected with it outside the recording, and there is a good deal more work to do than there was when I accepted the ofiice. I paid over to the 54 Treasurer $600 the other da^- besides paying all the ex- penses of the office. I leave it in 3'our hands whether I shall be paid $400 or $500. Mr. French — I should be glad to amend the motion and make it $500. I think the Secretar}' is worth it and more too. Motion seconded and carried. The Secretary — I thank 3'OU, gentlemen, and Mr. President, and gentlemen, if you will give me more straw I will make brick ; but I tell a'OU it is hard work to make brick without stravv^ Mr. French understands that. We have worked together, and it is hard to w^ork up a new thing over and over again. If 3^ou will give us something to work on, we will boom the A3^rshires. There is no question about it. Mr. Sears — I think it devolves upon an3^ and ever3'' one w'ho has an3^ record to send it in to Mr. Winslow and let him earn this extra $100. ^ Mr. French— I would like to ask the Secretary when the new Herd Book comes out. The Secretary — It should have been out now, but I had to go into the hospital for an operation and was laid up afterwards for about a month, but the Herd Book is on the wa3^ It is in the hands of the printer and about one hundred and fift3" pages are read3\ It will be out in a ver3" short time now. The President — Is there an3^ other business, gentlemen ? The Secretary — The Executive Committee will please meet immediatel3^ after the adjournment. Mr. Sears — Mr. Winslow has prepared a paper at considerable trouble, and perhaps he would like to read it. An3^wa3% the members would like to hear it. The Secretary — It will go into the report and the gentlemen can read it there. Moved and seconded that the paper be read. 55 BREEDING AYRSHIRES. POR THE SHOW-RING AND THE DAIRY. There is such a marked difference between the Scotch t3'pe ot latel5-bred Ayrshire and the home-grown in the United States that it raises a serious question-— whether breeders shall cling to the Scotch t3^pe and scale of points or ignore both and breed for the most profitable dairy cow, regardless of exterior form and Scotch type of excellence. iVn observer who visits the fairs of the United States, Canada and Scotland cannot but notice the difference in the style of the A^^rshires exhibited. At first sight, it would seem as though the breeders of Canada had ignored the dairy qualit}^ and the breeders of the United States the form of the Aja'shire, for looks count for much in the Canadian and Scotch rings and the handling of a cow leads in the judging in the United States; and the}' appear to be diverging more and more. Judging from the cuts in a late issue of the Countiy Gentleman^ and the quotations made, it would seem that st3de and looks count for everything in the show- ring in Scotland. The accompanying cuts represent popular t3'pes of A3^rshires in Scotland. Mr. Peer sa3's : — I shall not attempt to describe in detail these most beautiful cattle. The photographs here reproduced, will give the reader some idea of what an up-to-date Scotch A3^rshire — of either sex — is like. The bull, Bend d'Or, is a champion 3'earling, and winner of seven first prizes in 1898. He was bred and exhibited this year by Mr. James Howie, Hill- house, Kilmarnock ; he was sired by White Cockade. The heifer. Orange Blossom, of Hillhouse, bred by D. &. J. Wardrope of Old Cunnock ; sire Blood- for-ever. She is now owned by Mr. James Howie, and as exhibited by him in 1898 won seven first 56 and two second prizes. I may say however, that all Ayrshires do not show as much white, although white is the predominating color, and this with large red or dark red spots or splashes on the barrel, with the sides of the face shading to brown, is about the correct thing. The attractiveness of these particular colors or mark- ings is not striking perhaps in a single animal at halter in a barnyard, but when seen in numbers on a green pasture, they are very beautiful. The distinctive features of an Ayrshire's conformation is first of all their most perfect shaped udders. They have not onl}^ grand fore and hind udders, but the breadth of the vessel is very great. I saw a cow that had lately calved at Mr. James Howie's that could hardly manage to get her hind legs forward in w^alking, and the hoofs of her hind feet when standing squarely were at least 24 inches apart. Nor was this all ; the udder was carried well forward, more than half way to the navel, and well up behind. The bottom of the udder was perfectly level (no depressions between the quarters) and the teats were placed an equal distance apart each way. I may say the Scotchmen have discovered their mistake, and are now breeding for greater length of teats than ever before. Another marked characteristic of the Ayrshire family, as bred in Scotland, is their carriage ; a point to which American, and even Canadiafi breeders, have given too little attention. The Scotch have paid great attention to this point; and not only to this point in the animal while standing, but she must have a graceful carriage in walking. The want of this has lost many a good cow a prize of late years in Scotland. No cow can have a graceful, dignified carriage that is ewe-necked. It looks as badly as a fine, big soldier with round shoul- ders. As Mr. Howie says, "Sa must have the walk o' a queen, or ye ma let her ga awa bock hame." This shows to what a high state of perfection the show cattle o > M :?: Q td d V V w d d 6 [;.^ 57 in Ayrshire have attained, when the question of which cow walks most gracefully decides the winner of a champion cup prize, worth $250. Speaking of a cow carrying her head too low, Mr. Howie said, "Tha's a thing A canna forgive in an Ayrshire coo !" Mr. Howie led out a few young things he w^as fit- ting for the Christmastide show. They came from their stalls in the finest fettle and as fit as could be. Their ■coats glistened in the sun like a new silk hat ; the hair had been clipped from their necks and shoulders, the better to exhibit the beauty of their form ; the horns were beautifully polished, and their coats and skins as clean as soap and water could make them. A brush and comb from the house had been called into use to part the hair straight along the back and to brush all straj^ locks into order. This was a fortnight before the show, and such st3de and carriage ! iVs Mr. Howie expressed it, "Such a queenly wa}^ of going I A dinna ken, but am thinking they look as if the}^ were tr3dng to sell themselves." They looked at me as if they thought I was the judge and they were showing off. When we had left the stable and were driving along I asked: "What did you think of such a cow?" des- cribing a very beautiful one in which I noticed m}^ conductor did not seem to take much interest. My host answered : "Yon is a bonnie quay [heifer,] mind ye, bit A dinna jist warm to her, sa is a weeta muckledoon in the neck and tha' awkward tha' sa canna walk for a rood. Neither could her mither oor her granny ither ; A ken tha booth" (I knew them both.) While the A3''rshire is unquestionabl}^ a dairy cow, and the chief point of excellence should be her ability to convert the roughage of the farm into dairy products, can the breeder couple such animals as will secure the largest dairy yield from a typical Ayrshire form, as reg- ulated by this scale of points, for this breed of cattle ? Is it possible to push the typical Ayrshire cow that will 58 scale close to one hundred points, to the front rank as a phenomenal dair}- cow ? Can the highest t5^pe of both be combined in one cow, or must the breeder who wishes to breed a cow that will produce 12,000 lbs. of milk and 500 lbs. of butter in a j^ear, sacrifice something of the perfection of form to secure the dairy yield ? This is an important subject, especially when the Ayrshire Breeders' Association has both laid down a rule to guide in exterior form, and is at the same time using ever}^ effort to push the Ayrshire cow^ to the front in dairy yield. I do not mean — Can the highest excel- lence in both be easily attained ? But can they be attained at all ? If a thing can be accomplished once, it may again. If with any amount of labor, thought or ex- pense it can be accompli^ed, then the scale of points is right and the action of the Association in pushing for dairy abilit}^ is right also ; but if this combination can- not be attained in the same cow, then the scale of points should be changed, for a dairy cow is for use and not for ornament. It is for this Association to la}^ down the attainable type, and for the breeders to mould their cattle after it. For his encouragement, the breeder has the general law of heredity that like begets like ; it may be pf the imme- diate ancestry, or more remote. Also, he has the fact for his support that the more lines of perfection lie back of his breeding animals, the more likely he is to obtain perfection in the offspring. Moreover, he will find that when he pushes his breeding in any one line, he ma}" have many failures ; but there is alwa^^s the hope of some animals shooting ahead, yielding to the brain power that is behind and pushing steadily in one direc- tion ; for the man of brain is the controlling power of na- ture and the world. However definite the breeder's ideal, or however painstaking he is to reach it, he is amply rewarded if he can see but a little general improvement, and he 59 ma}^ take heart and be greatly rejoiced if lie ever during his lifetime produces even one animal that approaches his ideal. I believe the scale of points is right ; and I also believe the highest perfection of dairy 3deld maA^ be obtained from a perfect cow as determined b}^ that scale of points. But it cannot be done by a careless breeder, or without the greatest outlay of thought and money; for it is perfection, and means the retention of all that is good in a cow, and the elimination of all that is bad. If you go into almost any careful breeder's herd, 5'ou will find one or more cows that show perfec- tion in some point, and some herds will show perfection in many points. Of course the first point to lay down for perfection is the actual 3deld of milk and butter, and whatever else is sacrificed, this must be retained always, and built up by every means available. Constitution must back up this dairy prominence, or it amounts to little. With dairy jaeld and constitution, one will naturally have as a sequence the small head, the thin shoulders, the large barrel with arched ribs, the capacious udder, large milk veins and holes. The breeder has then a good dairy cow, and he must hold on to that and add to it, and then polish her up with what might be called the non-essentials. The udder must be shaped to a proper form, bred up behind and out in front and on the sides, until the cow can hardly walk when it is full. The sole of the udder must be brought down to a level, and the teats moved to the four corners of the udder. In doing all this, you will probably have shortened the teats so that it will trouble you to obtain the amount of milk 3'^our new cow will give, and 3^ou must breed them longer and still hold all you have got. Then you must square up the rump, and carry out the tail so that it will drop off suddenl3^ at right angles. All this time 3^ou must watch the loin, to keep up the strength of 3^our machine. After 6o ■j'ou liave done all this, 3^ou may give her some small upright horns, and place a broad Flanders escutcheon on your cow, and 3^ou may give her any combination of red, brown and w^hite, except a roan ; and you will have attained your object — a perfect Ayrshire cow. Now^ to do all this a man cannot stay at home and work up perfection out of his own herd. Nor can he send to some noted breeder and buy a bull calf at ran- dom in the hope of its nicking with its own herd and intensifying the good qualities and eliminating the de- fects ; but he should have the ideal type so firmly fixed in his own mind that he knows clearly what his best cows lack in m^aking them perfect, and he should find a bull that will build up the point that is most lacking in his most perfect cov/, bearing in mind the dair}^ quality alwa3^s, so as to keep that on the increase, or at least not to go backward. Sometimes he will need a bull strong in one of the minor points and sometimes in another ; and after all his pains and troubles he may find he made a mistake in the use of the most carefully selected bull, because of some preponderance of strong blood that swerves the offspring out of the line he hoped for, and he has to try again. In order to do all this, it is necessary for the breeder personally to inspect the dam and her relations, as far as he can, of the bull he proposes to use in his herd; and the higher he reaches in his attempts for perfection, the more necessary the personal knowledge of the an- cestry of the proposed addition to his herd. He should not wait until he needs a bull, but should plan ahead and be on the lookout for just what he is likely to need in the near future, and have the dam of a future bull in his mind ; and he may, by a little advice, manage to have her coupled so as still more to aid him in obtain- ing what he needs. No one bull will be suitable for all the herd ; but if the breeder is not situated so that 6i he can keep more than one, he can breed the top of his herd right and let the other end take care of itself. One very important help in all this is alwa3^s to keep the best animals you raise, and weed out the poor- est. There is always a market for the poorest, either to the butcher or the city milkman. In my own herd, if a cow does not suit me or come up to mj^ standard of excellence, I can always sell her as a new milch cow, to go to Brighton. The drovers are glad to get them, and will pay me the highest market price for a fanc}^ cow and let me keep her calf and her pedigree ; and she goes to market as a common cow. And here let me say that one great help to success- ful breeding is truthfulness and honesty in the other breeder ; for your bCvSt-laid plains may be all thwarted by a willful misrepresentation made for the purpose of insuring a sale ; and you, relying on his truthfulness, do not breed as 5'ou think yon are doing. A man in selling breeding stock should try to have good stock to sell, and should then tell the weak points or defects in his stock, if requested by the purchaser. A breeder never loses in the end ; for a reliable, honest, truthful breeder can always find sale for his stock, because he will be the more careful to have good stock, and his sales will give satisfaction to his customers, and they will speak a good word both for him and his stock and will come again to buy. Mr. Frknch — If there is no other business, Mr. Chairman, I vv^ish to say that during the year past we have lost a notable member of the Association, Dr. K. Lewis Sturtevant, of South Framingham, Mass. He was one of the early importers and breeders of A5'rshire cattle. He wrote a book on the early history of Ayr- shire cattle and of the importations into this country, and it is the best book we have on these subjects. He was, with his brother, the editor of the North American 62 A^^rshire Register, which in some sense was a rival to our own book and started at about the same time. We regretted at that time that he should have been separ- ated from us. He f ^5 during his occupancy of the farm of EHisland, near Dumfries, kept a dair}^ and i made considerable quanti- ties of cheese. "Thus his efforts to procure Ayrshire cows shows that they had, even at that time, a high reputation for this object." The present Ayrshire breed of cattle, like the im- proved Shorthorn, originated without doubt from various crosses, but there is great uncertainty about the early history of these crosses. Besides a cross of the West Highland breed, which is seen in the so-called Swinley type, there appears to have been an earlier cross of the Teeswater or Dutch breed, and perhaps also of the Alderney or Channel Island breeds. Whatever part these various breeds may have had in the origin of the Ayrshire breed, it is certain that much credit is due the farmers of Ayrshire in their selection and use of the material which has resulted in the formation of so useful a breed. Somewhere about 1780 came an era of awakening. With improved methods of agriculture (drill husbandry having been introduced a few years before,) began also the most marked improvements in the breeding of Ayr- shire cattle. The Highland Agricultural Society was instituted in 1784. It is of interest to know that in the same year, 1780, Charles Collins and his brother Robert began to improve the Shorthorn breed, — with what re- sults can be judged by the famous sale of Charles Collin's herd in 1810, when the noted bull "Comet" brought one thousand guineas. In Alton's History of the Ayrshire Breed in 18 15, are given some illustration of an Ayrshire cow and bull, which show what you might call a decided Shorthorn type, showing,' apparently, that both breeds were largely indebted to the same source, the "Teeswater," for improvements. The Teeswater breed (the name de- rived from the River Tees in the North of England) was formed by crossing with cattle imported from Hoi- land ; but these cattle must have been different In many respects from the present black-and-white Dutch bre?d. Paul Potter's bull, one of the most celebrated paintings in the world, now at the Hague, painted before 1654, gives no idea of the present Dutch breed ; neither do 3'ou often find in the paintings of the old Dutch artists black-and-white cattle, wdiich tends to show that the same processes of change and development in the cattle have been going on in Holland , as well as Great Britain. John Dunlop, of Dtinlop in Cunningham, Ayr, at an early date became noted as a breeder of fine cows giving large quanties of rich milk. Theophilus Parton, of Swinle}^ farm near Dairy, i^yrshire, is said to have been among the first to infuse a strain of the West Highland blood with the Ayrshire cattle. The first importation of Ayrshire cattle to Massa-' chusetts took place as earl}' as 1837 5 ^.nd since that date many other importations have come to this country at various times. The careful selection and breeding from these importations has resulted in (establishing the breed in this countr}' equal in ever}^ respect to that of Scotland. I can bear testimon}?- to the truth of this from my observations on both sides of the Atlantic. It is important to direct attention to what ma}' be called the environment of the breed. Consider carefuU}^ the fact that here is a breed which has been bred for more than a century in a countr}^ with climate and soil similar to our own. Now, under these circumstances, can an5:'one doubt that Ayrshire cattle are better adapted, from their natural surroundings where they havebeeji so long bred, for the average farm of Kew England, with its often cold, bleak weather and scanty pasturage and feed, than a breed bred perhaps for centuries, also, in a countr}' dissimilar in man}" respects to New England ? Should not the daily adaptation ol a breed for a hundred 67 years to its surroundings — and those ver}- like our own- — count for something in the selection of a breed for our farms ? Another thing to be considered, looking to the future development, is that it is better to breed from animals rather under than over the capacit}^ of the soil ; for, with the natural improvement of the land, the cattle must improve also, .whereas a contrarj^ course would be likely to cause retrogression. Ever3^ good farmer wants to see improvement and has that in mind, whether breeding cattle or tilling the soil. From, its lowly origin in the county of Ayr, the Ayrshire breed may now be found in almost every country of the world. Even Holland does not disdain to import Ayrshire cows ; and in Australia and New Zealand, they are the favored dairy animals. T^ey are also found in Japan. A scale of points is necessary in judging specimens of a breed; but the strongest points in a dairy breed are illustrated by the milk pail and churn. In 1880, Prof. Sheldon, author of "Dairy Farming," said of the Ayr- shires : "They are wonderful milkers, doing well in milk, where most breeds, would hardly live, — more com- pletely than most if not all other breeds, they possess the the- property of converting into milk the elements of food. They are hard 3^ enough to stand severe climates, while they have the facultj^ of quickh^ adapting them- selves to altered conditions. A careful examination of the milk of different families of Ayrshires would seem to indicate that the breed might be divided into two classes — the one for butter and the other for cheese. The milk of one of these types has butter globules scarcely inferior to those of Jersey milk, though the}" vary much more in size ; while the globules in the milk of the other are much smaller and more numerous. The former represents the butter and the latter the cheese .t}^pe of the Ayrshire cow. In classifying the different dairy breeds, he places /' 68 the Ayrshire first for milk and cheese. In Scotland, nine to twelve quarts of milk is estimated to a pound of butter, and five hundred to six hundred pounds of cheese is an average yield for a cow. In this country, the Ayrshire cow has been bred more for milk than for butter and consequently the butter qualities have not been developed as might easily have been done. Had more attention been paid to increasing and developing these butter qualities, a strain of Ayrshires might have been bred superior in many respects to the Channel Island cattle ; and the proof of this may be found in not a few instances of large butter yields and in the presence of a large percentage of butter fat in the milk. The Pvoyal Agricultural Society Journal of 1868 gives the record of an Ayrshire cow producing 269, 282 1-2, and 274 1-2 lbs. of butter for three successive years, and of another cow giving 399 1-2 lbs. in ten months. Fifteen pounds of butter per week is not tin- iisual in Scotland. At the British Dairy Show in 1879, twelve samples of milk were tested, representing seveii different breeds and three crosses— one Ayrshire, three Jerseys, one truernsey, one Kerry, one Dexter, one Brittany, and two Dutch cows. Highest on the list ranked the Ayr- shire, showing least water and most fat, followed in turn by the three Jerseys and the others in the order named ^bove. The Ayrshire gave 51-2 per cent, butter fat, and Dutch cows only 2 1-4 to 2 1-2 per cent, butter fat. At the same show, in 1880, an Ayrshire, in competition with eighteen other cows of noted breeds, yielded 25 lbs. 2 oz. of milk and in pure butter fat 6.82 per cent., and was only beaten by a Jersey with 7.78 per cent, w^hich, however, only yielded for the day 16 lbs. milk. The pure-bred Ayrshire cow, Duchess of Smithfield 4256, weight 1,128 lbs., has a certified record of 19 lbs. 6 oz. of butter in seven days, and yielded 74 lbs. of milk ill one day, in seven days 463 3-4, and 10,748 lbs. in one 69 year. This is a remarkably good record for any cow of any breed. In January, 1891, Mr. L. S. Drew, Burlington, Vermont, sent to the Vermont Experiment Station, samples of milk from fourteen cows, and the amount Df butter fat shown by analysis ranged from 3.50 to 5.65,^^ all but five being above 4 per cent. Last fall, in response to a premium of $60, offered by the Vermont Experiment Station, in connection with the Champlain Valley Association, Dolly Athol 4th, 6358, owned by Mr. Drew, won first premium, making d record of 31 lbs. milk, containing 2 lbs. i i-io oz. of butter fat, as tested by chemical analysis, or i lb. of butter to less than 15 1-2 lbs. of milk, which is said to be the highest record ever made in this country on a public Fair ground. The feed was dry hay and eight quarts wheat bran. Prof. Whitcher, of the N. H. Experiment Station, reports some interesting experiments in the comparative merits of the Durham, Holstein, Ayrshire and Jersey- breeds. Four cows of each breed were taken. - Lbs. milk. Lbs. butter. Butter fat. Lbs. of Cost of milk to 1 keep. lb. butter. The 4 Durhams average, 6141 261 3.86 $48.41 24 4 Holsteins 5971 207 3.13 50.12 29 4 Ayrshires " 5845 267 4.28 44.48 211/2 4 Jerseys *' 4847 269y2 5.12 46.49 18 In the cost of butter per pound, an Ayrshire was low^est with 9.9 cents per lb. and a Holstein highest with 23.7 cents. In the report of the New Jersey Experiment Station, experimenting for most of the time with three cows of each of the following breeds, the average cost of food per quart of milk was, — Ayrshire, 1.66 cents ; Guernsey, 1.71 ; Holstein Freisian, 1.75; Jersey, 1.91 ; Shorthorn, 1.7 1. The preceding figures tend to show that there are at least individual Ayrshire cows which are not lacking in butter qualities, and that they will make a pound of 70 butter or a quart of milk at a lower price than any other breed. SOME MII.K YIEDS. The cow, Alice Douglas 4398, in a seven days' test, gave 407 lbs. 12 oz. milk and as high as 62 lbs. 14 oz. in one day, and in the year 12,008 lbs. Roxanna 1816, yielded in twelve 3^ears 36 tons of milk, average 3 tons a year ; weight of cow, 1,000 lbs. Yields of 7,000 up to 10,000 lbs. are not uncommon, and yieldsof 13,000 have been recorded. In 1886, the Ayrshire Breeders' Association offered three prizes for the best herds of six cows yielding the largest amount of milk. Hayes & Son, N. H., won the ist prize, with an average of 7,702 1-12 lbs. in twelve months. Mr. Fletcher, of Mass., took 2nd prize, wdth an average of 7,323 lbs.; and Mr. Winslow, of Vt., 3rd prize, the average being 7,226 lbs. In a milking contest at Bristol, Kng., 1887, under the direction of Dr. Voelker, an A3Tshire won, with 105.98 points over four competitors, one of w^hich w^as a Guernsey, Some comparative statements come to hand from Canada, at Ottawa, in 1888, in the milch cow competi- tion between Ayrshires, Jerseys, Shorthorns, and Grades; the A3a-shires won ist, and at Quebec, an Ayr- shire cow scored 98.95 and took 2nd and 3rd prizes, while the Jersey that took ist scored but a trifle more. Ayrshire milk is rich in all the qualities which constitute good milk, butter, and casein, and the cream or fatty part is in such forni — that it remains for a long time diffused through the whole mass, and for this rea- son, to get the largest amount of cream and butter, re- quires to be set at least thirty-six hours to get the best results. This quality of holding its cream suspended in the mass makes it particularl}^ a good milk for send- ing to a distant market. Col. Curtis, of N. Y., one of 71 our dair)^ authorities, in an essa}'^ on the "Universal Cow," says : "The milk of the Ayrshire is peculiarly adapted to the wants of young children, especiall}^ of infants," and he has demonstrated this in his own fam- il3^ "Jerse}^ milk produced colic and other derange- mentvS, which ceased as soon as the diet was changed to A3^rshire. We had the same trouble once with a Jer- se}^ calf wdiich was sucking its .mother, and it would have. died had it not been changed to an, Ayrshire cow which proved to be an effectual remedy." The glob- ules of fat in the iVyrshire milk are intermediate in size between the Holstein and the Jersey. So much for dair}^ qualities. 1 will now speak of a quality which is of the least importance in dair}^ cattle, but which counts for something in the consideration of all the good points of a breed. The claim is- made and not without proof, that the Ayrshire will make better beef than any other dairy breed, and has a greater ap- titude to fatten quickly. Gilbert Murray, in. the "Cattle of Great Britain," published in 1875, says: "The most desirable quality of dairy cows of an}' breed is that they should yield a large quantity of milk in proportion to the food consumed ; and that when dry they should feed quickly." This we claim that the Ayrshire will do to a greater degree than any other dairy breed. Two Ayr- shire oxen gained the ist and 2d prizes a few 3'ears ago at the Highland Society Show in Scotland as best fat animals. Dr.' Sturtevant writes, "In the Aj-rshire, the fat is mixed with the lean, evenly and in thin streaks. When fed for the butcher, then all. her energies are directed to meet his demands,— the food that has hitherto gone, to milk being directed to equilization of flesh over the whole animal." It would be idle talk to say that the A3^rshire is an animal without defects. It is true that the Ayrshire approaches perfection, but there is no breed in the 72 world absolutely perfect. If there were there would be no room for improvement ; one of the greatest pleasures and encouragements in breeding is to see improvements. One of the most common faults found with the Ayr- shire cow is that the teats are too small, and the accu- sation is in some cases true. The Scotch standard length of teat has been two to two and one-half inches, and in Scotland, where the women do the milking, this length does not materially prevent the proper drawing of the milk ; but in this country, where a dairy maid is rarely seen, length of teat is of considerable importance. We want teats at least three inches long. Many breed- ers in the United States have devoted their attention to the remedy of this defect and they have succeeded so that, at the present time, comparatively few cows are found lacking in this respect. It is sometiraes said the Ayrshire is a nervous, irri- table animal, and this is sometimes true of individuals ; but the degree of irritability is largel}^ owing to treatment. Dr. Sturtevant sa3^s, "The Ayrshire has a superabund- ance of nerves. She is ready to employ them upon de- mand, in self-defense, or in self-support ; she asks little beyond a fair chance ; yet all this nature in her is in re- serve, andshe does not use it wantonly to disqualify her to be the pet of the household. She can the more aptly accommodate herself to circumstances and make them friendly to her." TO SUM UP THK CLAIMS OF THK AYRSHIRE COW. I St. She comes from a country similar in many respects to our own New England, where she has been bred for more than a hundred years for milk and butter, and where she has gained a high reputation in produc- ing these. 2d. In proportion to the amount of food consumed, she will produce as much, if iiot more, milk or beef, and in many cases as much butter, as any dairy breed. 3d. She is particularly well adapted to the aver- age farms of New England, because she will thrive ^^■^H fc I^^M:^ JMII rfk-. Q < O O. i-i ft Hi Q O O Q O P4 73 wTiere any cow can live, will quickly respond to good feed and good treatment, is an economical feeder and a large producer, in fact is a profitable cow^ to keep. 4tli. Besides the butter and cheese qualities of her milk, it has remarkable qualities for the market, and is easily digested by children and invalids* 5th. Because the ideal dairy cow as illustrated in the past and present history of the breed, in the symmetrical form and quality of body, in the digestive organs and all the vital functions of life, in the almost perfect shape of udder and in its products (no greater praise can be given a cow than to say she has an Ayr- shire udder), and in the general freedom from disease, may be found in the Ayrshire breed. In conclusion, the art of breeding consists quite as much in correcting defects as in improving or increasing virtues or good points. Lord Somerville, speaking of what breeders have done for sheep, says; "It would seem as if they had chalked out upon a wall a form perfect in itself, and then had given it existence." Darwin relates that, "In Saxony, the importance of the principle of selection in regard to Merino sheep is so fully recognized that men follow it as a trade ; the sheep are placed on a table and are studied, like a pic- ture b}^ a connoisseur." To be a successful breeder, you must have an ideal form and qualities in mind, and then by careful and patient study of your animals breed up to that standard as nearly as possible. (Substance of a paper read before the Senior Class of the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst in 1 89 1.) 74 THE AYRSHIRE COW. BY CM. WINSI.OW. I frequentl}^ receive letters of inquiry in regard to the Ayrshire as a dairy cow, desiring information about her abilit}^ to produce milk for the city trade, and some- times inquiring about her butter capacity. Questions are often asked about her hardiness, and what may be expected from a cross of Ayrshire Bulls and Jersey and Guernse}' cows, and various other inquiries in a general way , I will try in the following articl'e to answer the various questions asked, in regard to what kind of a cow the Ayrshire, both pure bred and graded, is. The Ayrshire breed of cattle originated in Scotland in the Count}^ of Ayr, about one hundred and fift}^ 3^ears ago. The history of what cattle or what breeds of cattle were used as the foundation of the A3^rshire is not clear, but the most reliable authorit}^ strongly indicates a cross of the old Durham, or Teeswater as it was then called, on the native cows of the country-. Whatever may have been the cross or crosses used to produce the Aj^rshire cow, it must have been a happy one and have commended itself to the dair5anen of that time for she began to be the popular dairy cow of those days and that country, and still holds the first position at home as a dairy cow and has been transplanted to other parts of Europe, Canada and the United States, taking with her and retaining the home reputation of being a profitable dair}^ cow under all conditions and in all climates. She was brought into Canada in the early part of the present century by the Scotch settlers and later into New England and the Eastern States, and has been bred in her purity from these early foundations, subject 75 to such departures from the original type as her sur- roundings and the needs of her owners would naturally produce, but all the time retaining the characteristic type of the breed. There is a greater similiarity be- tween the Scotch and Canadian Ayrshires than between the Ayrshires of the States and either the Canadian or Scotch, due in a great measure to the more frequent importations into Canada and to the difference in the milkers. In Scotland and Canada the milkers are mostly women, and their method of milking is to use the thumb and fore finger and to milk by stripping, while in the States men do the milking and prefer a cow with large, long teats that they can grasp. This has led the breed- ers of Ayrshires in the States to reject the cow with short teats and breed from the cow with long teats. Also the Scotch and Canadian breeder have appeared to place more importance in the exterior form of the Ayrshire, w^hile dairymen from the States have cared more for dairy quality and less for the fashionable type, so that today there is a marked difference between the majority of the Ayrshires as seen in the States and in Canada or Scotland, the cows from the States being, as a rule, larger and more angular, larger udders, not so square and symmetrical, longer and larger teats, larger milk veins and milk holes, thinner hides and larger milkers, the Scotch and Canadian bred Ayr- shires, on the other hand, being more blocky, straighter on the back, thicker hided, shorter teats, smaller milk veins and holes, and yet the scale of points of all is the same for a perfect cow, the difference in the animals be- ing due to environment and taste. But where the breeder has been guided by the scale of points in the selection of his breeding animals and has tried to com- bine utility with the perfect t3^pe there is not so much difference between the animals of the States, Scotland and Canada. The perfect type of the Ayrshire cow requires a small bony head, large full eyes, broad muzzle, large 76 motith, fine upright horns, long slim neck, sharp shoul- ders, straight back from head to tail, ribs well sprung, thick through the lungs, deep in the flanks, heavy hind quarters giving her a wedge shape, broad hips, legs spread well apart, large udder hung well up behind and running forward nearly to the navel, nearly level on the sole, with teats from two and one-half to three inches in length, equal in thickness and placed wide apart, large milk veins ending in large milk holes well towards the fore legs, long slim tail, short bony legs, mellow skin, color may be any combination of red, brown or white except a roan. The cow at maturity should weigh about one thousand pounds. She is of a quiet and pleasant disposition, great intelligence, quick to learn and of a retentive memory ; is easily taught to take the same place in the stable, is not disturbed by noise in the stable at milking time, and does not seem to be particular who milks her, giving her milk as read- to one milker as another. She is a tough and hardy cow, with a strong, vigorous constitution, and rarely has any udder trouble. She is a hearty eater and not at all dainty in her appetite, and seems so hungry al- ways that everything tastes good. She is always eating or chewing her cud, keeping up the latter even when walking along the road, and sometimes when started into a run, seeming to feel that she cannot afford to lose any time. She is a persistent milker, giving a large flow up to nearly time for calving, and unless care is exercised will not readily dry off. MII.K. More attention has been paid to developing the milking quality of the Ayrshire cow than in any other direction and she stands pre-eminently at the head as an economical producer of milk of high quality. Re- peated tests at the Vermont Experiment Station have shown her as producing 4 per cent, milk at the least cost of any of their herd, being a fraction over one cent 77 a quart at Eastern market prices for food consumed. An average Ayrshire cow will, on fair keep, pro- duce about 3000 quarts of milk in a year, and we have whole herds whose average yearly yield is over 3500 quarts, while many single 3^ 'elds have gone from /|.ooo to over 6000 quarts of 4 per cent, milk in a year. Her milk is admirably adapted to family use and the city retail trade, as it will bear transportation with- out separation of the butter, has a good color and is the most evenly balanced milk of any, in quantity of casein and butter fat, which makes it a most nourishing food easily digested and a perfect food for children and invalids. The following official test made at Brantford, Ont., between an equal numcer of Ayrshire and Jersey cows is a good illustration of the food value of the Ayrshire milk as compared with the Jersey. Notice that while the Jersey is higher than the Ayrshire in butter fat it is lower in solids not fat, also in total solids, so that while the Jersey would give a thicker cream or make more butter, it is not as rich in casein, and not as nutritious as a food. It is a settled fact that fat has no nutritive value, also that milk containing an excess of fat is more indigestible and causes serious disorders in the diges- tive organs of children and young calves. Breed. 4 Ayrshires, 4 Jerseys, Another advantage in Ayrshire milk as a commer- cial product is that the cream rises slowly and of such consistency as will enable it to remingle with the milk when poured back and forth a few times from one can to another, and when so prepared will not again rise readily to the surface, thereby making it a desirable milk to peddle and to use on the table, it having a rich look even to the last that is used. The following official tests of herds of ten cows each, show a good quantity of milk of high quality. Lbs. solids not fat. Lbs. fat. Total solids. 21.608 19.725 8.847 10.680 30.455 30.405 78 The herd of Geo. H. Yeaton, Dover, N. H., tested for the Home Dairy Test by the New Hampshire Ex- periment Station, gave a 3deld for ten cows, for two days in June and two days in December of 1257 lbs. of milk^ nearly 51 lbs. of butter fat, with a percentage of 4.12 butter fat, and 13.04 total solids. The herd of C. M. Winslow & Son, Brandon, Vt., tested by the Vermont State Experiment Station gave for ten cows in the Home Dairy Test, 1046 lbs. of milk, 42 lbs. butter fat, with a percentage of 4.12 butter fat, and 12.89 total solids. AYRSHIRE MILK RECORDS. The following are yields of milk that have been re- ported for 9,000 lbs. and over for 365 consecutive days. Name. Olah, Belle Hebron, Rose Sultana, Roxie, Xoa, Rose Deruth, Lady Teazel, Rose Alta, Bett3^ Lightfoot, Yucca, Annie ttert, Belle Temple, Roxanna 5th, Queen of Avr, Island Belle, Biona, Vine wood Queen, Ethel Douglas 2d, Rose Electa, Ruth. Rose Eola, Oueen of Aj^r 4th, Nellie Clyde, Rose Deross, Duchess of Sraithfieldj Queen of Ayr 5th, Ellen, Queen Mary, Meewe, Lady Murcia, Mvra, Manton Queen 4th, Rena Myrtle, Lady Fox, Alice Douglas, No. A. R. Pounds of Milk, 11471 9020 13013 9084 12G72 9172 4498 9191 11469 9232 10346 9253 6579 9268 9529 9307 7498 9394 11470 9496 9670 9613 3353 9624 4606 9671 1776 9775 1292 9982 12383 10024 8092 10026 2342 10066 10336 10207 4816 10219 8510 10323 4465 10426 12723 10507 10347 10645 4256 10748 4466 10801 8324 10823 6578 11154 11130 11252 11111 11543 2955 11908 6100 12162 9530 12172 9669 12299 4398 12617 79 BUTTER. Although the A^-rshire cow has usually been con* Sidered as strictly a milk producing cow, and although her friends have never put her forward as a special butter producer, yet recent tests of her butter quality, both ofhcial and private, seem to indicate that she might, with good reason, aspire to the position of a m.ost profit- able butter cow, as well as the most profitable milk cow of any of the dairy breeds, especially when her hardy constitution, easy keeping quality and large dairy pro- duction are taken into consideration. Before the advent of the separator, there wsfs an objection to the Ayrshire cow as a butter-producer, be^ cause the separation of cream was slow, taking thirty- six to forty-eight hours to obtain a complete separation,, and her large quantity of milk made it cumbersome, and the two taken together made it necessary for the butter- maker to have large accommodations to produce the same quantity cow for cow. It is a settled fact that the separator takes the cream from the milk of one breed as easily and thoroughly aS another, which removes the only objection to the A3T- shire cow as a butter cow, and allows her to compete on a par with others in actual quantity of butter produced, and in econoni}^ of production. These changed condi- tions have led the friends of the Ayrshire cow to test her butter qualities ; and while the majority of the owners of Ayrshire cows make no tests, and know nothing of the individual merits of their he^ds, a few are taking pains to learn the quality of their cows. The following are tests that have come to my knowledge of recent per- formances ; Lady Fox has given 624 lbs. of butter during the year as determined by the Babcock test from periodical tests during the year. She was kept farrow for a while, and the above was for the best 365 days of her milking period. Her yield of milk was 12,299 lbs. So Rose Krica, a heifer not quite two years old wlieti dropping her first calf, has given for the first 365 days of her milking 8864 lbs. of milk and 504 lbs. of butter- The percentage of butter-fat was 4.74, as determined by three composite samples taken and made by an agent from the State Experiment Station in December, 1896, June and September, 1897. At the Vermont Experiment Station in 1895, Rena Myrtle, 9530, gave 12,172 lbs. of milk and 546 lbs. of butter, which was the largest milk or butter 3deld ever obtained by the station from any cow of any breed, and she was not fed for the purpose of obtaining the largest dair}^ yield but was used to test different kinds of foods to see what effect they would have on a cow. The following butter records for a week, month and year are mostly private records, but from w^hat is known of the conditions surrounding the test are believed to be substantiall}^ correct. There is a* long list of records of over 300 lbs., but we have given only those reported as 400 or over. Name. Quess 2nd, No. 3120 Butter. 14.6 in seven days. Bessie Belle 3rd, 4323 15.4 <( Tern pie, Juniper 4th, Duchess of Smith field, 3263 4578 4256 15.6 17.11 " 19.6 it Rose Cleon, 11143 49.8 in Jan., 1897. Rose Electa, 10336 57.8 (< Rose Sultana, 12072 64.0 t( Rose Ladye, Queen Selga, Rose Veritas, 11158 9545 12076 78.4 404 in one 404 j^ear. .Rose AUie, 11154 405 (( Acelista, Olah , . 12094 11471 406 412 It Nancy B 2nd, Biona, Nancy B, Annie Bert, 11936 12383 9581 9670 412 413 416 417 << Printsteps 2nd, Mexic, 8410 11131 418 419 Rose Alta, 9529 420 Rose Sultana, 12072 421 Xoa, 11469 423 Minnehaha 3rd, 12646 424 Ruth, 4816 425 Clio Rose, 7525 441 Yucca, 11470 444 Lovely, 9596 448 Rose Ladye, 11158 463 Rose Electa, 10336 467 lola Lome, 12773 474 Rose Erica, 12775 504 Ren a Myrtle, 9530 546 '' Meewee, 11130 567 Rose Deross, 10347 572 Rose Clenna, 11153 607 Lady Fox, 9669 624 I have received the following comparisons between the twelve best Jersey cows of the Vermont Experiment Station and the twelve best Ayrshire cows from the herd of Mr. Drew of Burlington, Vt. EXPERIMENT STATION JERSEYS. Average of 12 best cows, 6377 lbs. of milk, 361 lbs. of butter. L. S. DREW'S AYRSHIRES. Average of 12 best cows, 7515 lbs. of milk, 355 lbs. of butter. At the Vermont State Fair in the fall of 1897, the average of the 1 2 A3^rshire cows in the butter fat test was 4.99 per cent. At the New Hampshire Experiment Station, w4th four cows of each breed, the average results for a full year's test w^as as follows : Pounds of milk, Pounds of butter. Per cent, of butter fat, Cost of keeping, Pounds of milk to pounds of butter. Judging from the above, it would seem as though a little care in selection and breeding would in a very Lyrsliire. Jersey. Holstein. 5,845 4,847 5,971 267 2691/2 207 4.28 5.12 3.15 54448 $46.49 $50.12 21^2 18 29 82 short time place the A^^rshire cow in the front as a butter producer. It shows there is an inherent butter capacity in the A3^rshire that is simply wonderful, for nothing has ever been done to develop the butter trait, and still, when placed side b}^ side with the butter-bred cow, she equals if not excels her on her own ground. CHEESE. As a cheese cow, the A^^rshire has alwa3^s taken a high position, giving from 600 to 1,200 pounds of cheese in a year. The average production of cheese in Scotland is from 500 to 600 pounds per cow. The famous Dunlop cheese of Ayrshire, Scotland, is probably made largely from Ayrshire cows' milk. BEEE. The A3^rshire being strictly a dairj^ cow, no attempt has ever been made to develop her beef qualities, but as a beef cow she will an}^ time pa}^ her original cost, as she fattens quickly, has ver}^ heavy hind quarters, and is thick on the loin, with her meat niceh^ flecked and of a rich color. I have been informed that the steers both pure bred and grades make fine steers, being quick growers, easily fattened and the meat properl}^ placed, to cut up to ad- vantage, also, that it is of an attractive color and nicel}^ flecked. As oxen they are equal to the Devon in intelli- gence and sprightliness, onlj^ somewhat larger. THE BULL AS A TOP- CROSS. Frequent inquit3^ is made 3'our Secretary in regard to the top-cross on Jerse3^s and what thoroughbred is the best for the purpose of strengthening the constitution of the Jerse3^ and making her a more profitable dair3^ cow for the common farmer. The judicious crossing of dif- ferent thoroughbreds is a nice point in breeding, and requires a good deal of theoretical knowledge, united 83 with, actual practice, for all breeds do not nick well when crossed one with the other. That the Jersey needs some cross of strong blood seems to be the general opinion of her owners, and vari- ous experiments have been made wath bulls of various breeds, but so far as I am able to learn no cross gives such satisfactory results as the iVyrshire bull on the Jersey cow. The most public trial of crossing on the Jerscy^s has been that on the farm of the late Theodore Havemeyer with the Normandy. I have never seen the result, but it would seem contrary to all natural law^ and not likely to produce stock excelling in any point. The Normandy is a large, coarse, ungainly animal, with an ill-shaped udder, thick, heavy hide, and as far as I have knowm is a very ordinary milker, and would not seem to have any desirable points to give the Jersey, except size, and the difference in size is too great for a first cross, for it is an acknowledged fact that variation by crossing must be done by a slow and gradual series of crosses. The Hol- stein has been tried on the Jersey but there are objec- tions to this breed, both from the disparagement in size and lack of constitution and hardiness in the Holstein. The Ayrshire seems to possess, in an eminent de- gree, all the points lacking in the Jersey, and to be of about the right size to nick well with the Jersey to pro- duce a cross of symmetrical shape. The two breeds compared are about as follows : The Ayrshire a little larger than the Jersey, of stronger con- stitution, a better feeder and not so dainty in appetite. Both are strictly dairy breeds, and when the average yield of dairy product is compared, cow for cow, the Ayrshire gives about the same quantity of butter in con- siderably more milk, and, when reckoned on a money basis, the Ayrshire is found to 3deld the larger return in dollars. There are probably more individual Jerse3'S that have established records of butter than of Ayrshires, be- cause the Jersey breeders have for years been testing their cows, while the testing of Ayrshire cows for butter is of very recent date, and only a few breeders have done so. There have been a few crosses made of A^^rshire bulls on Jersey cows, and so far the result has proved satisfactory in producing a fair- sized dairy cow of strong constitution and large dairy capacity. It is claimed b}^ some of those who have tried the cross that they give as rich milk as the Jerseys, and in an increased quantity, and by all, so far as heard from, that they get larger returns than from the full-blood Jersey. The result of crossing on the Guernsey is similar to that on the Jersey with perhaps a little larger animal, there being no material difference between the Guern- sey and Jersey, except that the Guernsey is larger, quieter, and gives yellow^er milk. I have been inquired of in regard to the Ayrshire as a top cross on Holstein cows, but having never seen it tried I am uncertain what the result would be, but it is my opinion that while it would be an improvement on the Holstein, it would not produce a very valuable cow, the Holstein being herself a thoroughbred, and at the same time having so many undesirable qualities, being a very hard keeper, a lean milker and tender of constitution, and as a beef animal having blue meat poorly flecked. The cross on Shorthorn cows gives a very desirable general purpose cow, being good size, easily kept, good milkers and good butter cows. In short, the two breeds seem to blend their good qualities in producing a typical dairy cow. On the Native with its multitude of crosses, the Ayrshire bull seems to nick well and produces a good market cow that usually resembles the Ayrshire and is well spoken of by her owner. The Ayrshire as a pure bred and grade is popular in the city cow market, being eagerly sought by the 85 milkman and classed as fancy cows, bringing the top price of the market. The Ayrshire has never been boomed for popular favor, but has always held all the territory she has acquired, and slowly and surely invaded new sections. It speaks well for her that she steadily makes new friends, and holds almost all her old ones, for usually a dairyman who tries Ayrshires does not wish to change. CONSTITUTION. PREAMBLE. We, the undersigned, breeders of Ayrshire Cattle, recognizing the importance of a trustworth}^ Herd Book that shall be accepted as a final authority in all questions of Pedigree, and desiring to secure the co-operation of all who feel an interest in preserving the purity of this stock, do hereby agree to form an Association for the publication of a Herd Book, and for such other purposes as may be conducive to the interests of Breeders, and adopt the following Constitution : ARTICLK I. This Association shall be called The Association of Aj^rshire Breeders. ARTICI.K II. The members of the Association shall comprise only the original signers of this Constitution, and such other persons as may be admitted, as hereafter provided. ARTICI.B III. The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, four Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secre- tary, who, together with six members of the Associa- tion, all chosen by ballot, shall constitute an Executive Committee. The President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and Sec- tary shall be elected annually. 86 The six members who make up the balance of the Executive Committee shall be elected as follows : Two members for one year ; two members for two 5^ears, and two members for three years, and hereafter tw^o mem- bers shall be elected each 3^ear, for a term of three years. The Treasurer shall present at the annual meeting of the Association a full statement of his accounts, aud- ited by two members of the Association, appointed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall, under the general direction of the Association, prescribe the wanner in -which the business of the Association shall be conducted; vShall have general control of all matters pertaining to its interests; shall have authority to appoint an Editor of the Herd Book, and may fill au}^ vacancies occuring among the officers. The office of Secretary, Treasurer and Editor may be filled by the same person. The Treasurer, Secretar\^ and Editor shall receive compensation for their services, to be fixed b}^ the Asso- ciation. The Treasurer shall give such bonds as may be required by the Executive Committee. ARTICLE IV. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held each 3^ear, at such time and place as shall be designated by the Executive Committee (of which notice shall be sent to members at least one month previous) , for the discussion of questions of interest to the members, and for the election of officers for the ensuing year. Special meetings of the Association may be called b}^ the Presi- dent or b}'' the Executive Committee or at the written request of ten members. Twenty days' notice must be given and the object of the meeting announced in the call, and no business other than that specified in the call shall be transacted at the special meeting. Time and place shall be determined in same wa}' as annual meet- ing. At all meetings of the Association members ma3^ vote in person, or b\^ prox}^ or they ma}^ send their bal- lots by mail to the Secretaiy, whose duty it shall be to 8; vote the same and to acknowledge their receipt. At least twenty members present, represented by proxy, or written ballot, shall be a quorum for transacting busi- ness. ARTICLE V. Only breeders of A3^rshire cattle shall be eligible for membership, and members shall be elected at any regular meeting of the Association ; also b}^ the unani- mous written consent of the Executive Committee at any time between the annual meetings, subject to the following conditions : Bach applicant for membership shall be recommend- ed b}^ one or more members of the Association, as a trustworthy^ and careful breeder ; and no new member shall be admitted if objected to b)^ any officer of the Association. The Secretary" shall notity the candidate of his rejection, or in case of his election that he will be ad- mitted as a member on signing the Constitution and paying the initiation fee. An applicant who has been rejected shall not be voted on again until two years from the date of his re- jection, unless by the unanimous consent of the officers of the Association. ARTTCLB VI. Each member shall pay an initiation fee of twenty- five dollars. These fees shall constitute an Association Fund to defrav the expenses of publishing the Herd Book, and other charges incidental to the organization of the Association and to the transaction of its busi- ness. No officer or member shall be authorized to con- tract any debt in the name of the Association. ARTICXB VII. The Herd Book shall be edited by an Editor appointed for that purpose, under the control and super- vision of the Executive Committee, and shall be published only with its official approval. 88 The charge for entry of the Pedigree of each ani- mal belonging to a member of the Association shall be fixed by the Executive Committee, but shall not exceed one dollar, except for an animal two 3^ears old. Animals not belonging to members of the Associa- tion ma}^ be entered in the Herd Book upon the payment of twice the amount charged to members. The Herd Book charges shall be appropriated to the examination and verification of Pedigrees, and the preparation of the Herd Book, which shall be published by the Association and shall be its property. The price of the Herd Book shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The Editor shall keep on file all documents constituting his authority for Pedigrees, and shall hold them subject to the inspection of an}" members of the Association, and shall deliver them to his successor in office. ARTICLE VIII. Should it occur at any time that any member of the Association shall be charged with willful misrepresen-. tation in regard to anj^ animal, or with an}^ other act derogatory to the standing of the Association, the Ex- ecutive Committee .shall examine into the matter; and if it shall find there is foundation for such a charge, the offending member ma}^ be expelled by a vote of tw^o- thirds of the members of the Association, present or represented at an}^ regular meeting. ARTICLE IX. This Constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present or represented by prox3^, at any annual meeting of the Association. Notice of proposed alterations or amendments shall be given in the call for said meeting. Xti O o n W > M REGULATIONS. ' 1 . Only such animals shall be admitted to the Herd Book as are proved to be either imported from Scotland 'or descended from such imported animals. 2. All animals hereafter imported, to be eligible to registry in the Ayrshire Record, must previousl}^ be recorded in the Ayrshire Herd Book of Scotland, and an application for registry must be accompanied by a certificate of registrj^ duly signed by the Secretar}^ in Scotland. Entries of calves imported in dam must be accom- panied by the certificate of registry of sire and dam in the Scotch Herd Book, also certificate of bull ser\acfe., signed by owner of bull. 3. No animal not already named and entered in some Herd Book at this date, shall be accepted for entry under a name that has already been offered for entry'; al«K5, the affix, ist, 2d and 3d, shall appl^^ only to calves of the cow bearing the name used ; not to her grand- children, nor any other animal, 4. The breeder of an animal shall be considered the one owning the dam at the time of her service by the bull. 5. No Pedigree will be received for entry from anyone except the breeder of the animal offered, unless it is accompanied by a certificate of the breeder, or his legal representative, indorsing the Pedigree. Entries of calves, sired by bulls not owned by the breeder of the calf, shall be accompanied by a certificate of bull service signed by owner of bull. 6. All animals sold, in order that their progeny may be registered, must have their successive transfers duly recorded. Records of transfers will be made only on the certificate of former owner, or his legal repre- sentative. 7. A transfer-book shall be kept by the Editor, in. which all changes of ownership shall be recorded. 90 8. The Editor shall keep a record of the deaths of all animals which ma}^ be sent to him. (And breeders are requested to forward the same, stating cause, etc.) 9. The fees for recording are one dollar for each animal recorded by and in the name of a member of the Association, being either bred or owned b}' him, and two dollars for animals over two years old at the time of entry. Double the above rates are charged to those not members. A fee of twent3^-five cents will be charged for record- ing ancestors necessarx;' to complete a pedigree to injportation or to cattle alread)^ in the Aj-rshire Record. Transfer fee twent^^-five cents. All the above fees should accompany the entrj^ or transfer papers to insure attention. 10. An individual membership shall be continued after the death of a member in the settlement of his estate until the same shall be settled and then the membership shall cease. In case of corporations, the corporation may continue as a member so long as thej^ are interested in the Association, and shall be represent- ed by such person as may be designated by the Presi- dent and Secretary of the Corporation. 11. These Regulations may be altered, amended or added to, with the consent of two-thirds of the officers of the Association and Executive Committee. PRICE OF BOOKS. Each Vol., I to XII inclusive, postage prepaid, may be obtained of the Treasurer, Henry E. Smith, Enfield, R. I., price, $2.25 Milk record blanks, per 100, 1.50 Blanks for registering and transfer blanks, free, on application to Secretary. 91 CHARTER. An Act to Incorporate the Ayrshire Breeders' Association. It is hej'-eby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont : Sec. I. J. D. W. French, James F. Converse, Alonzo Libb}- , F. H. Mason, Obadiah Brown, Henry E. Smith, C. M. Wmslow, S. M. Wells, H. R. C. Watson, James Scott, George A. Fletcher, Charles H. Hayes, John Stewart, their associates and successors, are con- stituted a bod}^ corporate b}^ the name of the "Ayrshire Breeders' Association," and b}^ that name ntay sue and be sued ; ma}^ acquire by gift or purchase, hold and con- vey real and personal estate, necessary for the purpose of this corporation, not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ; may have a common seal and alter the same at pleasure. Sec. 2. The object of this corporation shall be to publish a herd book, and for such other purposes as may be conducive to the interest of breeders of Ayr- shire cattle. Sec. 3. This corporation may elect officers and make such by-laws, rules and regulations for the management of its business as may be necessary, not inconsistent with the laws of this State. Sec. 4. This corporation may hold its meetings at such time and place as the corporation ma}^ appoint. Sec. 5. This act shall take effect from its passage. JOSIAH GROUT, Speaker of the House of Representatives. LEVI K. FULLER, Pi^esident of the Senate. Approved November 23, 1886. EBENEZER J. ORMSBEE, (A true copy.) . Governor. Attest: E. W. J. Hawkins, Eng 7^0 s sing Clerk. <^2 SCALE OF POINTS OF AYRSHIRE BULL. (Adopted February 21, 18S9 ) The points desirable in the female are g-enerally so- in the male, but must, of course be attended with that masculine character which is inseparable from a .strong- and vigorous constitution. Even a certain degree of coarseness is admissible ;■ but then it must be so exclu- sively of masculine description as never to be discovered in a female of his 'gktt. 1 . The head of the bull may be shorter than that of the cow, but the frontal bone should be broad, the muzzle good size, throat near- ly free from hanging folds, eyes full. The horns should have an upward turn, with sufficient size at the base to indicate strength of constitution 10 2. Neck of medium length, somewhat arched, and large in the muscles which indicate power and strength. , 10 3. Forequarters — shoulders close to the body, without au}^ hollow space behind ; chest broad, brisket deep and well developed, but not too large.... 7 4. Back short and straight ; spine sufficiently defined, but not in the same degree as in the cow ; ribs well sprung, and body deep in the flanks.... 10 5. Hindquarters — long, broad and straight ; hip bones wide apart ; pelvis ong, broad and straight ; tail set on a level with the back ; thighs deep and broad.... 10 6. Scrotum large, with well developed teats in front 7 7. Legs, short in proportion to size, joints firm. Hind legs well apart, and not to cross in walking 5 93 8. Skin 3^eilow, soft, elastic, and of medium thickness lo 9. Color, red of any shade, brown or white, or a mixture of these — each color being distinctly defined 3 10. Average live weight at maturit}', about 1,500 lbs.. - 10 11. General appearance, including style and movement 15 12. Escutcheon, large and fine development 3 Perfection 100 SCALE OF POINTS OF AYRSHIRE COW. (Adopted February 21, 1889.) The following scale of points for the Aj^rshire cow was adopted — being similar to the scale adopted in Scotland in 1884, and changed in a few points to render them applicable to this country. 1. Head, short; forehead, wide; nose, fine be- tween the muzzle and e^^es ; muzzle, large ; e3^es, full and lively; horns, wide set on, inclining upwards 10 2. Neck, moderately long, and straight from the head to the top of the shoulder, free from loose skin on the under side, fine at its junction with the head, and enlarging sym- metrically towards the shoulders 5 3. Forequarters — shoulders, sloping ; withers, fine ; chest, sufficiently broad and deep to insure constitution ; brisket and whole forequarters light, the cow gradually in- creasing in depth and width backwards 5 94 4- Back, short and straight ; spine, well defined, especial!}^ at the shoulders ; short ribs, arched ; the body deep at the flanks lo 5. Hindquarters, long, broad and straight, hook- bones wide apart, and not overlaid with fat ; thighs, deep and broad ; tail long, slender and set on a level with the back 8 6. Udder, capacious and not fleshy, hind part broad and firmly attached to the body, the sole nearly level and extending well forward; milk-veins about udder and abdomen well . developed ; the teats from 2 1-2 to 3 inches in length, equal in thickness — the thickness being in proportion to the length — hanging perpendicularl}', their distance apart at the sides should be equal to one-third of the length of the vessel, and across to one-half thebreadth ...• •• 30 7. Legs, short in proportion to size, the bones fine, the joints firm.. 3 8. Skin, yellow, soft and elastic, and covered with soft, close, woolly hair, - 5 9. Color, red of any shade, brown or white, or a mixture of these — each color being dis- tinctly defined • 3 ro. Average live weight, in full milk, about 1000 pounds .•...• 8 11. General appearance, including style and movement • — lo 12. Escutcheon, large and fine development 3 Perfection 1 00 95 OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. President, L. S. DREW, South Burlington, Vt. Vice=Presidents, OBADIAH BROWN, H. R. C, WATSON, Providence, R. I. Brandon, Vtv B, C, SEARS, JOHN STEWART, Blooming Grove, N. Y, . Elburn, 111, Secretary and Editor, CHAREES M. WINSEOW, Brandon, Vt. Treasurer, HENRY E. SMITH, Enfield, R. I. Executive Committee, J. D. W. FRENCH, JOHN W. SCOTT, No. Andover, Mass. Austin, Minn. S. M. WEELS, J. O. MAGIE, Wethersfield, Conn. Elizabeth, N. J. J. ANDREW CASTEREINE, C. H. HAYES, Dover, N. J.. Portsmouth, N. H. Editing Committee, C. M. WINSEOW, J. D. W. FRENCH, Brandon, Vt. No. Andover, Mass. 96 fiEriBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. Adams, A A.... Garnet, Kansas. Allan, Andrew Montreal, P. Q. Angell, Edwin G - Providence, R. I, Arnold, George W Warren, R. I. A5^er, H S. ^ Columbus, Pa. Babcock, F M.... < Gouverneur, N. Y, Bacon, PK Campello, Mass. Ball, A P.... Derby Line, Vt. Barney, C S-. ^... ...... Milford, N. Y. Barnes, N Middle Hope, N. Y, Beach, Frederick H....- Dover, N.J. Beatty, J P Pataskala, Ohio. Bell, George H Rome, N. Y. Bement, George East Oakland, Cal. Betts, Henry Pittsfield, Ohio. Birnie, Charles A Long Meadow% Mass, Blodgett, H W Waukegan, 111. Blodgett, J W. East Saugus, Mass. Boise, Enos W -Blandford, Mass. Bowker, George H Barre Plains, Mass. Bowen, Edward S Providence, R. I. Bo3-er, R A Catasauqua, Pa. Boynton, CH Lisbon, N. H. Bradford, J H, Supt.. Monson, Mass. Bradley, G C... Watertown, N. Y. Brainerd, L St. Albans, Vt. Brayton, C N......... South Wales, N. Y, Brodie, Hugh Rural Hill, N. Y. Brown, Obadiah.... Providence, R. I. Brush & Rowley Northport, N. Y. Bryant, George E • Baldwinsville, Mass. Burke, Joseph F. Morristown, N. J. Burnett, John W Salem, N. Y. Butterfield, Jerome F Montrose, Pa. Buttrick, C A Liberty Falls, N. Y. 97 Byrne, Christopher Friendsville, Pa. Calumet Woolen Co Uxbridge, Mass. Campbell, John S New York Mills, N. Y. Carr, Lewis Providence, R. I. Carrons, Robert M Washington, Pa. Cass, George ly McGrawville, N. Y. Casterline, J Andrew Dover, N. J. Choate, Charles F Southboro, Mass. Clark, CW Guymard, N. Y. Clark, Franklin P Sudbury, Mass. Clark, N E Potsdam, N. Y. Clarkson, T S, Jr. Potsdam, N. Y. Cloud, James and Son Kennet Square, Pa. Cochran, M H ComptOn, P. Q. Cochran, T Allman Baltimore, Md. Coldren, J N Iowa City, Iowa. Connecticut Insane Asylum.. Middletown, Conn. Converse, J F Woodville, N. Y. Cook, Howard Beloit, Ohio. Cookingham, H W Cherry Creek, N. Y. Cooper, Albert Java Village, N. Y. Cornell, AM Altus, Pa. Cornell, FP Sylvania, Pa. Coutts, Peter Mayfield, Cal. Crane, Fred Roselle, N. J. Crane, John Union, N. J. Crane, J H & Sons Toledo, Ohio. Crayton, B F & Son... Anderson, S. C. Crissey, Warren Great Barrington, Mass. Crozier, William Northport, N. Y. Curtis, LW Globe Village, Mass. Davidson, George Fairfax, Que. Davis, L D Newport, R. I. Dearborne, A J West Falmouth, Me. Delap, S N lola, Kan. Doane, Franklin,. Middletown, N. Y. Doe, Charles C , South Newbury, Vt. 98 Drew, L S, South Burlington, Vt. Drummond, James Cote Visitation, Montreal. Dunham, J L, Sharon, Conn. Edes, Samuel Newport, N. H. Ennis, Alfred A Danielson, Conn. Fairweather, William Meadville, Pa. Farley, FC Milburn, N. J. Farrell, W E Corey, Pa. Fletcher, George A Milton, Mass. Fletcher, Etna J Greenfield, N. H. Foote, T E Eee, Mass. Foss, J M St. Albans, Vt. French, J D W North And over, Mass. Fuller, C C Nelson, Ohio. Garvin, W R Dover, N. H. Gibb, John L Quebec, P. Q. Gold, TS West Cornwall, Conn. Greene, B D Stamford, Conn. Griffin J H Moira, N. Y. Hall, Eott Gouverneur, N. Y. Ham, Eugene Verbank, N. Y. Hamilton Woolen Co Southbridge, Mass. Harrington, A D. Oxford, N. Y. Harrington H A Worcester, Mass. Harrison, Charles K Pikesville, Md. Harwood, J A Eittleton, Mass. Haskins, J P & Son Providence, R. I. Hawses, Addison S Providence, R. I. Hawks, E B Wells Bridge, N. Y. Ha37es, Charles H Portsmouth, N. H. Hayes, Charles S Portsmouth, N. H. Hazard, Isaac Providence, R. I. Holt, Andy Lyndeboro, N. H. Hazen, Chester Brandon, Wis. Healy, C N Exeter, N. H. Heath, G P Northboro, Mass. Higgins, Asa Petaluma, Cal. 99 Hill, James J St. Paul, Minn. Hinson, WG Charlestown, S. C. Hopkins, William H Providence, R. I. Hopkins, Willis W" Aldenville, Pa. Hubbard, George D Camden, N. Y. Hunt, AW Brunswick, Me. Hyde, J B i2oBroadway, New York, Irving, Thomas Petite Cote, Que. Jackson, Ward R Boonville, N. Y. Jay, Wm Katonah, N. Y. Jenkins, J W Vernon, N. Y. Johnson, Joseph Hartland, Wis. Jones, D & G Galesburgh, 111. Jones, N P Billerica, Mass. Joslin, H S Mohegan, R. I. Kemp, Edward. New York. Kissel, Gustave Morristown, N. J. Knowlton, George W West Upton, Mass. Krebs, J DeWitt 200 W 118— New York. learned, JH Putnam, Conn. Lawrence, James Groton, Mass. Leach, Philo Bridgewater, Mass. Libby, Alonzo Westbrook, Me. Lindsay, William Elizabeth, N.J. Logan, A Sydney Philadelphia, Pa. Lorillard, P Jobstown, N. J. Magie, J O Elizabeth, N.J. Magone, Daniel Ogdensburgh, N. Y. Mason, FH Leon, Ohio. Massey, D A Asylum Station, Mass. McCrea, Robert Champlain, N. Y. McFadden, George H Rosemont, Pa. Merriam, Herbert Weston, Mass. Millard, L D Taunton, Mass. Miller, James Pen Yan, N. Y. Milliken, Charles R Portland, Me. Munce, RJ Clokey, Pa. \ lOO Nichols, James H Carmel, N. Y. Norton, W H Allentown, N. Y. Oliver, James South Bend, Ind. Oneida Community (Limited) Kenway, N. Y. Ormiston Bros Cuba, N. Y. Peck, Civ Coudersport, Pa. Pierce, George H Concord, Mass. Perley, Charles West Boxford, Mass. Pierce, WR Middleborough, Mass. Piper, Anson C South Acton, Mass. Pope, Rev G Stanley Grand View, Mass. Proctor, Fletcher D Proctor, Vt. Ramsdell, H S Newburgh, N. Y. Reed, Hammon Lexington, Mass. Reeve, C McC Minneapolis, Minn. Rhodes, T F. Camillus, N. Y. Rhome, B C Etna, Texas. Robinson, Isaac R Wakefield, R. I. Roode, Joseph Jewett City, Conn. Russell, Henrj^ G Providence, R. I. Sadler, Edward W Mont Clair, N. J. Sage, Charles D No. Brookfield, Mass. Sanford, Charles Orwell, Vt. Scott, John W Austin, Minn. Schouten, E A Cortland, N. Y. Scribner, G S Castleton, Vt. Sears, B C Blooming Grove, N. Y. Sears, N E Elmwood, Conn. Seaver, Henry E. Canton, N. Y. Sellers, Will'am Edge Moor, Del. Sherman, Everett B Burrillville, R. I. Sherman, Leander Harrisville, R. I. Shimer, AS. Redington, Pa. Shimer, B Luther Bethlehem, Pa. Smith, Daniel A Tarkiln, R. I. Smith, EA Brandon, Vt. Smith, Henry E Enfield, R. I. lOI Smith, J B Walden, N. Y. Smith, Oliver Chateaugay, N. Y. Smith, Peter D Andover, Mass. Spaulding, L C Poultnej^ Vt. Spencer, AB Rockport, Ohio. Stevens, Wm Stanford St. Albans, Vt. Stewart, John Elburn, 111. , Stewart, John Lome Island of Coll, Scotland. iStickney, William H Brownfield, Me. Stone, Bela J Westborough, Mass. Stowell, L D Black Creek, N. Y. Stowits, H Albilene, Kan. Surget, James Natchez, Miss. Taber, George Bast Aurora, N. Y. Thorp, Henry Charlotte, Vt. Thorp, John C Holyoke, Mass. Thurber, C S New York. Tongue, Thomas H Hillsborough, Oregon. Tschudy, Fred Monroe, Wis. Tubbs, Ambie S Mexico, N. Y. Tucker, WG Elm Valley, N. Y. Turnbull, Thomas Jr Monaca, Pa. Turner, J C Longview, Texas. Tuttle, M A Hornellsville, N. Y. Underbill, C S Glenham, N. Y. Valentine, John R Bryn Mawr, Pa. Vaughn, William P Providence, R. I. Venable, A R Jr Farmville, Va. Verplank, Samuel. Fishkill-on-Hudson,N.Y. Viner, William Arden, N. Y. Walker, William I Great Barrington, Mass. Watson, H R C Brandon, Vt. Weed, John W Noroton, Conn. Wells, Dudley Wethersfield, Conn. Wells, S M Wethersfield, Conn. Whitney, C P Orleans, N. Y. Whittingham, W R Milburn, N. Y. I02 Wilson, A J Gralton, Ohio. Winslow, CM Brandon, Vt. Winsor, Nicholas S Greenville, R. I. Winter, N H Cortland, N. Y. Wolcott, C W Readville, Mass. Wood, Lucius H. Cranston, R. I. Yeaton, George H Dover, N. K. Young, Gilman P Grafton, Mass. Young, James L, Sterling, Conn. .J--'..-'-*/ :>^t :.;:.:i-j:;-:/i^ '^^:ib