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Description: Ayrshires are red and white, and purebred
Ayrshires only produce red and white offspring. Actually, the
red color is 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 black in contrast to the white. 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.
Ayrshires are medium-sized cattle and should weigh over 1200
pounds at maturity. They are strong, rugged cattle that adapt
to all management systems. 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 good condition. 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. Ayrshire
bull calves can be profitably raised as steers.
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