| Holstein | Origin
Imports Association |
Characteristics
Production Top |
After the New World was settled, and markets began to develop for milk in America, dairy breeders turned to Holland for their seed stock.
Winthrop Chenery, a Massachusetts breeder, purchased a Holland cow from a Dutch sailing master who landed cargo at Boston in 1852. The cow had furnished the ship's crew with fresh milk during the voyage. She proved to be such a satisfactory producer that Chenery imported more Holsteins in 1857, 1859 and 1861. Many other breeders soon joined the race to establish Holsteins in America.
After about 8,800 Holsteins had been imported, cattle disease broke out in Europe and importation ceased.
Americans Build Their Own Breed
In the late 1800's there was enough interest among Holstein breeders to form associations for the recording of pedigrees and maintenance of herdbooks. These associations merged in 1885 to found the Holstein-Friesian Association of America, the Holstein Association.
Holsteins are most quickly recognized by their distinctive color markings and outstanding milk production.
Physical Characteristics
Holsteins are large, stylish animals with color patterns of black and white or red and white.
A healthy Holstein calf weighs 90 pounds or more at birth. A mature Holstein cow weighs about 1500 pounds and stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder.
Holstein heifers can be bred at 15 months of age, when they weigh about 800 pounds. It is desirable to have Holstein females calve for the first time between 24 and 27 months of age. Holstein gestation is approximately nine months.
While some cows may live considerably longer, the normal productive life of a Holstein is six years.
Top of Page * Top of Holstein
Milk Production
Average production for all Holsteins enrolled in official U.S. production-testing programs in 1987 was 17,408 pounds of milk, 632 pounds of butterfat and 550 pounds of protein per year.
Copyright © 1995, 1996 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
The photographs and information contained on this page are provided courtesy of the Holstein Association, 1 Holstein Place, Brattleboro, VT 05302-0808. Phone: (802) 254-4551.
| Efficient, Adaptable Breed
The Jersey breed originated on the Island of Jersey, a small British island in the English Channel off the coast of France. The Jersey is one of the oldest dairy breeds, having been reported by authorities as being purebred for nearly six centuries. The breed was known in England as early as 1771 and was regarded very favorably because of its milk and butterfat production. At that early date, the cattle of Jersey island were commonly referred to as Alderney cattle although the cattle of this island were later referred to only as Jerseys. Jersey cattle were brought to the United States in the 1850s. |
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Adaptable to a wide range of climatic and geographical conditions, outstanding Jersey herds are found from Denmark to Australia and New Zealand, from Canada to South America, and from South Africa to Japan. They are excellent grazers and perform well in intensive grazing programs. They are more tolerant of heat than the larger breeds. With an average weight of 900 pounds, the Jersey produces more pounds of milk per pound of body weight than any other breed. Most Jerseys produce far in excess of 13 times their body weight in milk each lactation.
The modern Jersey breed is unexcelled in dairy type. Breeders in the United States commonly referred to two distinct types of Jerseys in the past, these being the Island and the American; this distinction is not commonly made at present. It should be recalled that this is a different usage of the word "type" than is usually implied and refers to the general size and quality of the animal rather than to its use for dairy purposes. The Island-type Jerseys excelled in refinement and those qualities that were deemed necessary to win in the show ring. Refinement and beauty of such cattle in mature form led to the marked superiority of cattle imported from the island of Jersey or their direct descendants in winning most of the major awards of the American show ring. The so-called American-type Jerseys were noted much more for production than for beauty. Cattle referred to by this description are usually larger, a bit coarser, and have been bred for years for those qualities that suit them for milk and butterfat production. Some have referred to them as the "Farmer's" Jersey. Usually after two or three generations in the United States in the hands of the ordinary feeder, the refinement of the Island cattle gives way to the larger and less refined American kind.
In recent years there has been less concern about these type variations; no doubt the program of type classification has tended to reduce the extremes. Additional emphasis on milk production and less stress on butterfat production had, no doubt, resulted in general acceptance of Jersey cows with more size and scale. Recently, imported Jerseys have been larger cattle than many previously brought to the United States. Their offspring have not only been acceptable in type but have also been used advantageously in improving production.
Cows show very marked refinement about their heads and shoulders, carry long, straight top lines, and usually carry out long and level at the rump. For their size, they are usually deep in the body and full and deep in the barrel. There is no more appealing dairy animal than the well-balanced Jersey cow, and although usually somewhat more nervous in disposition than the other dairy cows, she is usually docile and rather easy to manage. Jersey cows usually have an extreme weight range of between 800 and 1200 pounds, but medium-sized cows are usually preferred.
Jersey bulls, while small as compared to the other dairy breeds, are extremely masculine. They are quite muscular about their crests and shoulders and are considerably less refined throughout than are the females. The same general qualities of straight lines and diary conformation as are found in the cows are desired in bulls. They usually range in weight from 1200 to 1800 pounds, but as in the females, medium weights are usually preferred. Jersey bulls are known for having the least docile temperament of the common breeds of cattle. It is folly to trust any dairy bull and particularly Jerseys past eighteen months of age.
Modern Jerseys may be of a wide range in color. There is little preference today between the solid and broken colors although most breeders slightly prefer the cattle with an unbroken color pattern. Most prefer the dark tongue and switch, but this is more a matter of an identification point than a point of discrimination. The color in Jerseys may vary from a very light gray or mouse color to a very dark fawn or a shade that is almost black. Both the bulls and females are commonly darker about the hips and about the head and shoulders than on the body. Most breeders slightly prefer the medium shades of color to the extremes, but nearly all of them realize that type and producing ability are far more important than the shade of color or whether the color is solid or broken.
Copyright © 1995, 1996 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Content Providers:
The American Jersey Cattle Association, 6486 East Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-2362 Phone: (614) 861-3636 FAX: (614) 836-8040 Internet: usjersey@iwaynet.net
Briggs, Hilton M and D.M. Briggs. 1980. Modern Breeds of Livestock. Forth Edition, MacMillan Company
| Guernsey | Beginnings
Importation America's Guernseys Genetic Improvement |
Golden Product
Tanbark Trail Guernsey Today Top |
Introduction of the Guernsey to America occurred around September 1840, when Captain Belair of the Schooner Pilot brought three Alderney cows to the port of New York. Later, Captain Prince imported two heifers and a bull from the Island. These animals were the original stock of a great majority of the Guernseys that make up the national Guernsey herd today.
With the understanding that positive identification is crucial to preserving the purity of the breed, a group of Guernsey breeders founded the American Guernsey Cattle Club in 1877. Since then, the organization has registered over three million Guernseys. Now the American Guernsey Association, the national organization for the registration and promotion of Guernsey cattle, has introduced many other programs for the advancement of the breed.
Making Strides in Genetic Improvement
Genetically, the Guernsey of today is much different than that of 960 A.D. Due to the advent and commercialization of artificial insemination, a process by which a cow is inseminated without ever seeing a bull, a particular bull can sire thousands of offspring. This genetic improvement has been generated by a progressive, aggressive young sire program. Young bulls' semen is distributed throughout the Guernsey population until the bulls have a large enough daughter population that their offsprings' qualities are predictable. As proven bulls, these sires may have as many as 1,500 daughters in up to 400 herds. However, every six months the list of available sires is updated. At that time, new bulls with superior genetics are added and older sires lose their "active" status. This insures that the breed-wide effort to improve the Guernsey's sound genetic base continues.
The Guernsey cow is known for producing high-butterfat,
high-protein milk with a high concentration of beta carotene. Being of
intermediate size, Guernseys produce their high quality milk while consuming
20 to 30 percent less feed per pound of milk produced than larger dairy
breeds. They are also known for having a lower projected calving interval
and have a younger average age of first calf heifers than the larger breeds.
Other attractive characteristics of Guernseys are their lack of any known
undesirable genetic recessive traits and their adaptability to warmer climates.
| The Guernsey is also an excellent grazer. She is a cow that is made for pasture-based milk production. Because of her grazing abilities, gentle disposition, calving ease and ability to efficiently produce milk with less feed than other breeds, she is the ideal candidate for intensive grazing. Dairy producers can realize her profit potential while reducing management costs. |  |
During the summer and fall of the year, Guernsey enthusiasts from all over the United States congregate at state fairs and national shows to have their Guernseys judged. This show season is referred to as the "Tanbark Trail". Each year, approximately 200 breeders participate in three national shows which culminate in one national contest to find the Guernsey that best represents the ideal conformation of the breed.
Data from herds enrolled in the American Guernsey Association's
Dairy Herd Improvement Register program during 1992 shows the breed average
to be 14,667 pounds of milk, 659 pounds of butterfat and 510 pounds of
protein on a mature-equivalent basis. Today, although Guernsey breed numbers
are steadily decreasing as the total dairy cow population decreases across
the United States, the commitment of the AGA Board of Directors, staff
and Guernsey breeders is stronger than ever. Evidence supporting the ability
of the Guernsey cow to compete effectively can be found throughout the
country. Take advantage of Guernseys and join others who are taking advantage
of this profitable cow!
Copyright © 1995, 1996 Oklahoma State University
Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Reference:
American Guernsey Association, 7614 Slate Ridge Blvd., P.O. Box 666, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-0666. Phone: (614) 864-2409.
Photographs:
American Guernsey Association, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation, Sydney, NSW
Australia
| The Brown Swiss breed is one of the oldest of the dairy breeds in the world. It is descended from cattle used in the valleys and mountain slopes of Switzerland since before historic records began. It was here that certain breed characteristics became so firmly established that they are still evident to this day. The origins still farther back are somewhat doubtful. Some think that the breed goes back eventually to Oriental origins, having been introduced into Central Europe from the steppes and valleys of Western Asia. On the other hand, cattle bones found in the ruins of the Swiss Lake Dwellers are very similar to the bones of present Brown Swiss cattle. Such evidence indicates that a type of cattle apparently closely related to Brown Swiss of today existed during the Bronze Age in the area now known as Switzerland. |  |
Early Swiss farmers gave great attention to cattle breeding. Cattle raising received special encouragement of awards and premiums made through action of the confederacy and cantons. The aim of these awards was primarily to locate for extended use the best females and breeding bulls in the country.
Swiss cattle were grazed throughout the summer at 3,000 to 8,500 feet above sea level. The unusual physical exertions and high altitude under which generation after generation of these cattle were developed has played an important part in the selection for strength and ruggedness as found in the Brown Swiss breed today.
It is from the great cow families of these herds, developed generation after generation under these conditions, that selections were made for importations as foundation animals of the Brown Swiss breed in America.
The first recorded Brown Swiss cattle to be introduced into America were brought in by Henry M. Clark, of Belmont, Massachusetts, in the winter of 1869 and 1870. This first importation consisted of one bull and seven females. The bull, William Tell, is the No. 1 bull listed in the Brown Swiss Record, and the seven females Zurich, Lucerne, Gretchen, Brinlie, Lissa, Christine and Geneva are the first seven female listed therein. All eight of these animals came from the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. This first shipment also included Albert Tell, imported in dam Zurich No. 1, and recorded as No. 2 bull in the Brown Swiss Record; and also a female, Verona, imported in dam Brinlie No. 4, and recorded as female No. 8.
From this first importation made by Clark, there were 251 descendants recorded before the next importation of 10 head (one bull and nine females) was made in 1882 by Messrs. George W. Harris of Wethersfield, Connecticut and Nelson B. Scott of Worcester, Massachusetts.
The cattle imported by Scott and Harris in 1882 came by
boat from New York to the Wethersfield wharf where they were unloaded and
driven to the farm. The second importation came in March of the next year.
The Connecticut River was frozen so these ten heifers were taken from the
boat at Saybrook, at the mouth of the river, and shipped by train to Wethersfield,
walking from the station to the farm where they were quarantined. They
had had a long passage and showed the effects when they arrived. Later
a quarantine station was established at Garfield, New Jersey, and imported
animals spent the period of quarantine there.
| In 1886, George Harris' brother, Charles, started on a steamer from New York arriving at Liverpool, July 13. His destination was Switzerland to purchase Swiss animals. He took with him a case of glass tubes about six inches long and one-half inch in diameter to learn the cream line on milk from cows whose progeny would appear to be good animals to buy. Because of what seemed to George to be but little chance that animals imported then would find ready sale, George wrote him not to buy. |  |
During the next few years several small importations were made by the following men: L.J. McCormick, Chicago, Illinois (4); Wm. Koch, New York, New York (6); G.B. Eldridge, Middle Falls, New York (14); Charles W. Henry, Germantown, Pennsylvania: Edward F. Steel, Germantown, Pennsylvania; G.A. Griscom, Hartford College, Pennsylvania, and Samuel Emlin, Germantown, Pennsylvania (10).
In 1889 Enos M. Barton of Hinsdale, Illinois, imported 14 head and in 1904 he imported his second load of five bulls, and 34 females, making him the importer of 53 head. Shortly afterwards a bull and seven females were imported by C.D. McLaury and Frank Freemyer of Breakabeen, New York.
After the last importation by Barton, the United States government prohibited any further importations of cattle from Switzerland because of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Europe. In 1931 imports were again allowed and several animals entered within the year. A.E. Bower and A. Oliver Bower of Bushton, Illinois, brought in the bull, Imported Mars 25100, and the female, Burgis Drosel 36800, both bred in Switzerland. Broadview's Mexico 25700, bred in Mexico, was imported by Mrs. Clara J. Cleaveland of Moline, Ilinois, and Ralph Mooney of Ft. Dodge, Iowa. J. Frank Zoller of Schenectady, New York, brought in imported Jack of Walhalla 25300, bred in Switzerland, and Blankus of Walhalla 25301, bred in Mexico.
In 1969, Aron 4696 Egg was inspected and given a favorable recommendation for accepting an Application for Registration. He was the first imported bull available for use in 38 years. Close on his heels was Ueli 7200 Hombrechtikon, imported into Canada with semen available in the U.S.A. He was accepted for an application in January of 1971.
Henry Clark only kept a few of his imports and sold the rest almost immediately to Aldrich of Massachusetts, Whyte of Colorado, Rider of New York and Fish of Connecticut. Aldrich in turn sold a few head to Maxfield of Connecticut who sold Tube Rose 24 to George W. Harris in 1877. The spread of Swiss had begun. In the 1880's and 1890's Brown Swiss traveled to most parts of the United States and by 1895 had reached the Pacific Ocean.
In September, 1888, they were already being exported. lret 429 was transferred from W.R. Fish, Mystic River, Connecticut, to Manuel Gracia Sedano, Del Rio, Mexico. In November of '88 five bulls went from O.A. Kelley, Worcester, Massachusetts to E.W. Orrin of Mexico City. In the early 1900's Japan and Mexico were heavy importers of Swiss with 117 head going to Japan by 1920. Other countries included Peru, Canada, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and South Africa. Major exporters were Inman of Wisconsin and Barton of Illinois.
As the breed was expanding across the country and world and growing in numbers, the cow herself was also improving. At the 1898 Annual Meeting of the Association in Chicago Brown Swiss was declared a dairy breed and the wheels were turning for breed progress.
The pathway of progress was not an easy one, however. Tragic events caused numerous setbacks. Many herds in the early 1900's had to be destroyed due to an outbreak of tuberculosis or foot-and-mouth disease. The E.M. Barton herd which played an important role in the breed's early history had one of the most tragic stories.
In the fall of 1914 the Barton show herd was at the National Dairy Show in Chicago. Excerpts from an article in the May 1923 Bulletin tell the story best.
"Foot and mouth disease on its sweep through the country in 1914 found a foothold at Sedgeley Farm and marked the beginning of its end. About nine o'clock on the morning of November 9, two of our Brown Swiss were noticed to be affected by the disease, at noon 35 were affected, and in 24 hours they were all showing the disease. Only those who cared for the cattle during that 60 day siege that they were in quarantine can appreciate the distress for both men and cattle. The cattle all recovered and regained their normal flow of milk, but were condemned by government officials. Only four calves had been lost during the siege, these due to complications of pneumonia. Every effort was made to save the herd. Petitions signed by all of the neighbors were sent to the Secretary of Agriculture and offers were made to pay all salaries and expenses of officials to keep the cattle in quarantine. But the department declared that it was its policy to kill all affected animals regardless of kind.
Fate was cruel to the breed, when on January 7, 1915, 215 head of Brown Swiss, looking fine as ever, were turned out of the lots, driven across the pastures into a large hole, shot down and covered with quick lime and dirt. They were appraised by the officials at $845 per head.
The barns were disinfected by the officials and made ready for the return of the show herd, which had been away at the National Dairy Show and there held in quarantine during the siege at the farm. Upon testing a few of these were found to have contracted tuberculosis while in quarantine, and again the herd was decreased by a few, leaving only a small herd of about 50 head. Mr. Barton's health was such that he had little opportunity to rebuild the herd. He died May 13, 1916. The herd was dispersed in 1921.
The H. Ayers herd was completely wiped out by T.B. in 1920 and had to be rebuilt. A good portion of the Harris herd also had to be destroyed that same year. Records show many other herds throughout the country as having suffered the same fate. The Swiss population in the United States suffered a severe setback. The depression followed putting a strain on registration.
The 40's and 50's were golden decades for Swiss with number
of breeders, number of animals and type and production on the upswing.
While numbers have leveled off, production and type has shown marked improvement.
Brown Swiss in the show ring are cows to be respected and there is a new
Breed Champion in Milk and Fat to launch us into the new century.
In closing perhaps the prime example of where we have
gone in 100 years is illustrated by comparing Brienz 168 and Century Acres
Liz C 619223. Brienz 168 came to the U.S. in Scott and Harris' second importation
in 1883. At the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago Brienz was the Champion Over
All Breeds with a three day record of 245 pounds milk and 11.66 pounds
butter. This past January Century Acres Liz C completed a record of 37,846
pounds milk and 1667 pounds fat in 365 days. The Brown Swiss breed has
made considerable progress during the past 100 years.
Copyright © 1995, 1996 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
Reference:
Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association of America, PO Box 1038, 800 Pleasant St., Beloit, WI 53512-1038. Phone: (608) 365-4474
Photographs:
Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat and
Livestock Corporation, Sydney, NSW Australia
Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association of America,
Beloit, WI
| Ayrshire | Breed
Characteristics |
U.S. Development
Top |
There is good evidence that several breeds were crossed with native cattle to create the foundation animals of the breed. In Agriculture, Ancient and Modern, published in 1866, Samual Copland describes the native cattle of the region as "diminutive in size, ill-fed, and bad milkers." Prior to 1800 many of the cattle of Ayrshire were black, although by 1775 browns and mottled colors started to appear.
Probably the improvement of the native stock began around 1750 when it was crossed with other breeds. The principal blood used in improvement was that of the Teeswater stock, which later was largely used in the formation of the Shorthorn breed in England. A majority of the breeding in the Teeswater was from Dutch or Flemish cattle that also were used in the formation of the Holstein breed. Animals from the West Highland and improved Shorthorn were to improved the original Aryshire stock. There is also considerable evidence that cattle from the Channel Islands were used in the improvement of the cattle of Ayr. It is to the credit of the Scottish farmers that they used any available improved stock that they felt would improve their cattle for practical use in their area.
Regardless of the details of origin, the early breeders carefully crossed and selected the various strains of cattle to develop the cow we now know as the Ayrshire. She was well suited for the land and climate in Ayr. She was an efficient grazer; noted for her vigor and efficiency of milk production. She was especially noted for the superior shape and quality of her udder. The composition of her milk made it ideally suited for the production of butter and cheese by the early Scottish dairymen.
Ayrshires are red and white, and purebred Ayrshires only produce red and white offspring. Actually, the red color is a reddish-brown mahogany that varies in shade from very light to very dark. On some bulls, the mahogany color is so dark that it appears almost black in contrast to the white. There is no discrimination or registry restriction on color patterns for Ayrshires. The color markings vary from nearly all red to nearly all white. The spots are usually very jagged at the edges and often small and scattered over the entire body of the cow. Usually, the spots are distinct, with a break between the red and the white hair. Some Ayrshires exhibit a speckled pattern of red pigmentation on the skin covered by white hair. Brindle and roan color patterns were once more common in Ayrshires, but these patterns are rare today.
For many years, the Ayrshire horns were a hallmark of the breed. These horns often reached a foot or more in length. When properly trained, they gracefully curved out, and then up and slightly back. When polished for the show ring, the Ayrshire horns were a spectacular sight. Unfortunately, the horns were not very practical, and today almost all Ayrshires are dehorned as calves.
Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle and should weigh over 1200 pounds at maturity. They are strong, rugged cattle that adapt to all management systems including group handling on dairy farms with free stalls and milking parlors. Ayrshires excel in udder conformation and are not subject to excessive foot and leg problems. Few other breeds can match the ability of the Ayrshire to rustle and forage for themselves under adverse feeding or climatic conditions. Ayrshire cattle will do better under pasture conditions than will the other major dairy breeds and , when pastures are poor, they need less grain to keep them in air condition (C.H. Eckles, Dairy Cattle and Milk Production, 1923). The ruggedness of the terrain and the unfavorable climatic conditions of their native land led to the selection for those points of hardiness that adapt them to less than ideal conditions. These traits make Ayrshires outstanding commercial dairy cattle.
Other traits that make Ayrshires attractive to the commercial dairyman include the vigor of Ayrshire calves. They are strong and easy to raise. Ayrshires do no possess the yellow tallow characteristic that would reduce carcass value, so Ayrshire bull calves can be profitably raised as steers.
The Ayrshire is a moderate butterfat breed. The actual average of all Ayrshires on Official DHIR test is over 12,000 pounds of milk with a 3.9% test. Ayrshires respond to good management and feeding practices and individual Ayrshire herds average as high as 17,000 pounds of milk and 700 pounds of butterfat.
Top producing Ayrshires regularly exceed 20,000 pounds of milk in their lactations. The current world record for Ayrshire is held by Lette Farms Betty's Ida. In 305 days, on twice-a-day milking, she produced 37,170 pounds of milk and 1592 pounds of fat. The Ayrshire Breeders' Association does not officially recognize records in excess of 305 days, but one Ayrshire has produced over 41,000 pounds of milk and 1800 pounds of butterfat in 365 days.
Development in the United States
| The first importations of Ayrshires to the United States was believed to have been made by Henry W. Hills, of Windsor, Connecticut, around 1822. Farmers in New England needed a dairy cow that would graze the pastures of their rough, rocky farms and tolerate the cold, often inhospitable winters. |  |
The largest numbers of Ayrshires are registered each year in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Vermont.
During the early part of the Twentieth Century, Ayrshires were noted for their extremely good type. Old photographs of Ayrshire cattle confirm this fact. To demonstrate their hardiness, the Ayrshire Breeders' Association staged one of the most spectacular promotional events ever conducted by a dairy breed registry association. In 1929, two Ayrshire cows named Tomboy and Alice, were literally walked from the association headquarters at Brandon, Vermont, to the National Dairy Show at St. Louis, Missouri. Both cows not only survived the trip, but calved normally and went on to produce outstanding milk records of the time.
During the Twenties and Thirties, many Ayrshire herds were established near cities. Some of these farms bottled and distributed their own milk. In the late Thirties, the Ayrshire Breeders' Association established the Approved Ayrshire Milk program. The program served the purpose of promoting Ayrshires by promoting their milk. To qualify, a herd had to be comprised entirely of Ayrshires, and the herd owner had to maintain the highest health standards. Promotional materials from the time stated that Ayrshire milk had a better flavor. It also emphasized the unique composition of Ayrshire milk and made it more healthful, especially for children and babies. The promotional literature recommended that mothers give their children Ayrshire milk to be sure they grew up to be strong and healthy. Milk marketing, like herd management, has changed and the Approved Ayrshire Milk program is no longer in operation. However it is interesting to note that the promotional themes of the Approved Ayrshire Milk program were very similar to those of modern milk marketing campaigns.
The development of the Ayrshire breed is a story of dedicated people as much as it is of great dairy cattle. Farmer breeders, whose livelihood depend on their cattle, along with wealthy hobby farmers and talented and dedicated herd managers all share equal credit for their contributions to the development of the Ayrshire breed. The Ayrshire cow is universally recognized as one of the most beautiful of the dairy cattle breeds, but much more important is the fact that she has been bred and developed to be a useful and profitable dairy cow. With proper feeding and management, the Ayrshire will produce at a profitable level for her owner. By using the modern breed improvement tools of DHI or DHIR testing, type traits appraisal, and artificial insemination, an Ayrshire breeder can be sure of breeding better Ayrshires to meet the demands of the modern dairy industry.
Copyright © 1995, 1996 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
References:
Briggs, H.M. & D.M. Briggs. Modern Breeds of Livestock. Fourth Edition. Macmillan Publishing Co. 1980
Promotional materials. Ayrshire Breeders' Association, Brattleboro, VT
Photographs:
Ayrshire Breeders' Association, Brattleboro, VT
| A Versatile Breed Having Many Attributes for Profit
One of the oldest recognized breeds in the world, Shorthorn cattle originated in Northeastern England in the Valley of the Tees River. Much of the early improvement work took place in the counties of Northumberland, Durham and York. The first importation of Shorthorns to the United States
was in 1783, when 'Milk Breed' Shorthorns came to Virginia. These early
importations, often referred to as 'Durhams', became favorites of the pioneer,
furnishing meat, milk and power.
|
 |
Origin, History and Development
Into the North Sea, on the east coast of England just north of the bulge toward Europe, a river, the Tees, empties. It was along this river that the Shorthorn breed was developed. The earliest knowledge of the forerunners to the breed is word of mouth, that for two hundred years before 1780, there were short horned cattle on the Yorkshire estates of the Dukes and Earls of Northumberland. Shorthorn stock had been in the herds of Smithsons of Stanwick since the middle 1600's.
Several men helped to bring the breed to its present high standard of perfection by selecting animals that were best suited to meet the demands of practical farmers.
In Shorthorn history, the names of Bates, Booth and Cruickshank are noted. Bates and Booth were Englishmen who developed what are usually referred to as 'English Shorthorns.' Cruickshank was a Scotchman who developed the 'Scotch Shorthorns.' The Bates type of Shorthorns were noted for their style and good milking qualities. Cruickshank's cattle were thicker, blockier, and meatier.
Most of the early importations of Shorthorns to America came from English herds and were of the Bates and Booth types; those that came directly from the Bates herd or descendants of that herd had very good milking qualities.
As explained, the Milking Shorthorn is not a separate and distinct breed, but rather a segment of the Shorthorn breed. The pedigrees of both the Milking Shorthorn and the scotch Shorthorn trace to the same foundation animals if carried to breed origin.
Shorthorns Enter USA in 1783
An unknown number of both types, the milk breed and the beef breed, were brought from England by a Mr. Gough of Maryland and his partner, a Mr. Miller of Virginia. Importations continued during the early 1800's and the breed moved into New York, Kentucky, Ohio and deeper into the Midwest. The first herd west of the Mississippi River is reported to have been established by N. Cooper on his Ravenswood Farm in Missouri in 1839. Today, Milking Shorthorns are found in almost every area of the United States.
It should be gratifying to anyone interested in Milking Shorthorns to learn how much the breed contributed to the livelihood of our nation. Its hardiness, wide range of adaptation and efficiency of production provided milk, meat and transportation for our pioneers. The breed's many attributes continue to provide a livelihood for the breeders of today.
A Versatile Breed
The Milking Shorthorn breed is the most versatile of all breeds and this is one of its greatest attributes. These docile cows efficiently produce large volumes of nutritious milk each lactation and are large enough to have a high salvage value when their long productive lives finally come to an end. In addition, their healthy calves born each year on regular calving intervals are spunky at birth, grow rapidly, and those not kept for breeding stock and herd replacement make efficient gains and hang very desirable grading carcasses.
Other attributes of the breed include ease of calving, ease of management and economy of production, especially on home produced roughage and grass.
One of the first official demonstrations of the production ability of Milking Shorthorns was made at the World's Exposition in Chicago in 1893 where two of the leading cows of the test were Kitty Clay 3rd and Kitty Clay 4th, the latter standing third in net profit over all breeds. These sister cows became the foundation for the Clay cow family of Milking Shorthorns, developed at Glenside Farm, Granville Center, Pennsylvania.
Milking Shorthorns in the USA
Breeders began recording their Shorthorn cattle in 1846 with the first volume of the American Herdbook. In 1882, the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association was formed to register and promote both Milking and Scotch (beef) Shorthorns. In 1912, a group of Milking Shorthorn breeders organized the Milking Shorthorn Club to work within the framework of ASBA. Its membership was interested in advertising the good milk qualities of the breed by keeping official milk records and encouraging breed improvements.
The American Milking Shorthorn Society (AMSS) incorporated in 1948 and took over the registration and promotion of Milking Shorthorns. In April 1950, the Milking Shorthorn office moved from Chicago to Springfield, Missouri. Milking Shorthorns were declared a dairy breed in 1969 and in 1972 became members of the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association. The Society national office moved to its present home, Beloit, Wisconsin in 1986.
Milking Shorthorn breeders in the USA have many opportunities for improving the genetics of their animals by participating in the breed's official production testing, type trait appraisal, gain performance, national shows and breed promotion programs.
Breeders can use semen from the breed's highest proven bulls. Semen of high genetic value is also available from carefully selected young sires approved by the Young Sire Committee. Also, two grade-up programs make it possible for anyone to bring outstanding neglected purebreds back into the Official Herd Book and to introduce the best of other internationally recognized high producing breeds into a program with rigid requirements.
It is a fact that no breed has made greater improvement during the past 15 years and even greater increases are expected in the future. Milking Shorthorns have become more dairy and more angular and improved udder quality. Anyone having the opportunity to observe recent national Milking Shorthorn shows can not help but be impressed by the number of superior individuals presented which were bred by breeders from coast to coast.
Copyright © 1995, 1996 Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. All rights reserved.
The photographs and information contained on this page are provided courtesy of the American Milking Shorthorn Society, P.O. Box 449, Beloit, Wisconsin 53512-0449. Phone: (608) 365-3332