Ayrshire Cattle Advantages, Disadvantages, Facts, Milk Quality

The Ayrshire breed was established prior to 1800 and became an official cattle breed by 1812 in Scotland. It was known at the beginning as the Dunlop, then the Cunningham, and now, the Ayrshire. It's unknown how the various breeds of cattle were combined to create the Ayrshire breed. However, foundation animals of this breed were developed through crossbreeding between multiple breeds.    Prior to 1800, the majority of Ayrshire cattle were usually black, but by 1775, browns and mottled color combinations began to appear. The indigenous stock is believed to have been improved around 1750 through crossbreeding with other breeds such as Teeswater cattle and Channel Islands cattle.

Regardless of which particular breeders were involved, those early cattle were chosen with extreme care and forethought to create the breed of the Ayrshire. This land and climate were well suited to the Ayrshire breed. The Ayrshire is a hardy grazer known for its vigor and milk production quality. The outstanding shape and quality of the udder distinguish Ayrshires. The milk composition made it ideally suited for the early Scottish dairymen to produce butter and cheese.

Ayrshire cattle Advantages

They are known for their low somatic cell counts, their efficiency at converting grass to milk, and their sturdiness. Ayrshire cattle have remarkable longevity and easy-calving characteristics, plus the breed is immune to hereditary diseases.

Ayrshire milk is known as "the ideal drinking milk." Their milk is not too fatty, has an acceptable amount of fat, and contains a high amount of non-fat solids including protein.

In South Africa, a large upscale store chain that only sells high-quality products gave their customers the opportunity to sample various types of dairy milk (Ayrshire, Holstein, and Jersey). Ayrshire milk was preferred by more than 70% of respondents over all other kinds of milk. Furthermore, the high fat, protein, and kappa casein content of Ayrshire milk make it more desirable milk for making yogurt, cheese, and ice cream because the fat particles are slightly smaller and more evenly dispersed throughout the milk. Test results for official DHIR tests indicate that Ayrshires actually produce a milk yield of over 12000 pounds with a 3.9% test.

Ayrshire cattle Disadvantages

A strong personality, which beginners may find difficult to manage. It Produces less milk than Holsteins, but of higher quality. if you are not well trained for cattle farming then this breed might not be a good option for you.

Ayrshire cattle Facts

Adult Ayrshire cows weigh between 450 and 600 kg's (990 –1320 lbs). Ayrshires are known for their white and red patterns, which can vary from orange to brown color. They're known for their toughness and ability to properly transform grass into milk. The breed's current strengths are fast calving and resilience.

Ayrshire cattle Milk Quality

Ayrshire cattle are well known for their high-quality milk production which is one of the main advantages of the Ayrshire cattle. The milk does not have a significant amount of fat, yet contains an acceptable level of fat and plenty of non-fat solids, including protein.