Ayrshirecattle are a breed of dairy cattle from Ayrshire in southwest Scotland. The adult Ayrshire cow weighs from. Ayrshires typically have red and white markings; the red can range from a shade of orange to a dark brown. They are known for their hardiness and their ability to convert grass into milk efficiently. The breed's strengths today are traits of easy calving and longevity.
Etymology
The breed originated in the county of Ayrshire in Scotland before 1800. During the breed's development, it was referred to as the Dunlop, later the Cunningham, and finally, the Ayrshire. These are all parts of the County Ayr. Which strains of cattle were crossbred to create the Ayrshire is not known.
History
Although they are now native to Ayrshire, Scotland, many cattle historians believe the Ayrshire breed originated in Holland. In 1750, they were crossbred with other breeds of cattle, which led to their distinctive brown spots. The cattle were recognised as a distinct breed by the Highland and Agricultural Society in 1814. Many modern dairy farmers favour Ayrshires because of their longevity, hardiness, and easy calving. These traits are thought to have developed due to the rugged conditions of its native habitat. Ayrshire cattle were first brought to the United States in 1822, primarily to Connecticut and other parts of New England. The environment was similar to their native land of Scotland. The American Ayrshire Breed Association was founded in 1875. The Approved Ayrshire Milk programme, which licensed farms that owned Ayrshire cattle, began in the 1930s. Ayrshire milk was identified as being of higher quality compared to that of other breeds. Today, the cattle are owned by farmers in many areas of America, including New York and Pennsylvania.
Characteristics
The Ayrshire is considered to be a medium-sized breed by most conservation organisations and breed associations. The average adult individual "should weigh over at maturity." Their milk production can reach or greater per annum. Ayrshire cattle are usually red and white in colour. The red colour can vary from very deep to a lighter shade; according to the U.S. Ayrshire Breeders' Association, "here is no discrimination or registry restriction on color patterns for Ayrshires." Calves are normally dehorned to reduce injuries to other cattle and human handlers. If they are not polled, their horns can grow up to in length. Due to the environment of their native Scottish lowlands, they are typically strong and adaptable to many farming methods. Compared to other dairy breeds, such as the Holstein-Friesian, Ayrshires are usually able to survive despite less feed and less fertile ground.
Temperament
A study of the social behaviour of Polish Black-and-White dairy cattle and their F1-crossbreds with Ayrshire, Jersey, Holstein-Friesian and Swedish Black-and-White breeds, found the Ayrshire crossbreeds were most dominant, least attacked by their group-mates and least susceptible to a group change. A further study found that among Ayrshire, Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss and Guernsey, the Ayrshire had the highest number of agonistic interactions, however, this was not related to bodyweight.
Population
In 2008, 63,356 Ayrshire cattle were registered in the United Kingdom. In the United States, Ayrshire cattle are classed as a "recovering" breed by the Livestock Conservancy, despite a significant decline in registrations over the last 30 years. This means more than 2,500 registrations occur annually, but the breed is "still in need of monitoring."
