Ayrshire cattle

Ayrshire cattle

Ayrshire cattle (rˈshēr, –shər), breed of dairy cattle originated in Scotland in the late 18th cent.; introduced into the United States in 1837. They are medium-sized and white mixed with red or brown in color. Ayrshires are excellent grazers and good, consistent milk producers. Ayrshires were formerly used as dual-purpose dairy and meat producers. Their importance as a breed has declined, especially in favor of the Holstein Friesian, but Ayrshires remain popular in North America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe and South America.

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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ayrshire Cattle

 

a dairy breed developed in the 18th century within the County of Ayr (Ayrshire), Scotland, by improving the indigenous stock through crossing with the Dutch Holstein and Shorthorn breeds. The animals are short and well formed, with strong frames and deep broad chests. They are spotted red in color. The bulls weigh between 650 and 750 kg, the cows between 450 and 500 kg. Milk yields are between 3,500 and 4,000 kg, with records of more than 10,000 kg. The milk fat content is around 4 percent. Ayrshire cattle are widely found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Finland. They began to be imported into Russia in the 19th century but were not widely found. They were imported into the USSR from Finland in the 1960’s. They are raised on a number of farms in Novgorod, Moscow, Leningrad, and Kursk oblasts, as well as the Karelian ASSR.

N. P. GERCHIKOV

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.