The Ayrshire Cow
The Ayrshire cow with her combination of dairy quality and very attractive appearance is no doubt the ideal dairy cow for both the commercial farmer and stud breeder of today.
Today's modern Ayrshire cow has an ideal make-up to be able to compete with all breeds in all conditions. They have the conformation and constitution for a long working life, and the ideal udder for today's milking systems.
Calving Ease
Ayrshires are well known for their trouble free, ease of calving with heifers having few problems. Cross bred calves both dairy and beef are usually no problems.
Ideal Milk Components
The Ayrshire milk is naturally high in protein with an ideal fat/protein ratio for the modern milk market. This is complemented by a cow that can supply large quantities of milk.
Low Mastitis Counts
With factories today paying more attention to mastitis counts and setting maximum allowable herd cell counts with bonuses for low cell counts, farmers are now more aware of their mastitis counts. The Ayrshire is on average a low cell count dairy cow.
Adaptability
The Ayrshire is well known for her foraging ability in all types of terrain and climates. A versatile cow that will show her true worth when conditions get tough.
Longevity
With today's dairy farmers closely watching their budget, a cow that stays producing longer in the herd is what we are all looking for. Ayrshires have proven that they can remain 'sound' year after year producing milk well after others have fallen. This accompanied with a healthy cow having fewer vet visits makes her a much more economical option.
One has to circle the globe to fully realise how widely acclaimed the Ayrshire breed is in other countries. In fact, it can truly be said the sun never sets on the Ayrshire World.
The adaptability of the Ayrshire cow is demonstrated by her ability to produce at high levels in varying climatic conditions.
The Ayrshire is hailed from Finland, which is the farthest north agricultural country in the world, through several African countries to the very cold south of New Zealand, where winter housing is not practised.