Javascript is required to use this website.

Beef Breeds: Ayrshire

From the Beef Breeds of the World series

Ruth Nicolaus
Apr 1, 2020
Apr 1, 2020 Updated Jun 25, 2020

Haley Mertz leads Old-Bankston JC Booyah-ET, a winter yearling in 2018.
Submitted photos

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Ayrshire cattle are named after the place where they originated.

kAm%96 3C665 @7 52:CJ 42EE=6 3682? AC:@C E@ `g__ :? E96 r@F?EJ @7 pJC :? $4@E=2?5 2?5 H6C6 7:CDE C676CC65 E@ 2D E96 sF?=@A[ E96? E96 rF??:?892>[ E96? E96 pJCD9:C6]k^Am

kAmxE :D F?<?@H? 9@H E96 3C665 42>6 23@FE[ 3FE :E :D E9@F89E E92E D6G6C2= 3C665D H6C6 4C@DD65 H:E9 ?2E:G6 42EE=6[ H:E9 E96 DE@4< 36:?8 :>AC@G65 368:??:?8 2C@F?5 `fd_]k^Am

kAm%96 62C=J 3C6656CD 4C@DD65 2?5 D6=64E65 7@C EC2:ED E92E H6C6 :>A@CE2?E 7@C E96> :? E96:C 86@8C2A9:4 2C62[ H9:49 H2D C@4<J H:E9 A@@C 7@C286D] %96J H2?E65 2 4@H E92E H2D 2? 677:4:6?E 8C2K6C[ ?@E65 7@C 96C G:8@C 2?5 >:=< AC@5F4E:@? 677:4:6?4J 2?5 7@C >:=< 4@>A@?6?ED E92E 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ 3FEE6C 2?5 4966D6 >2<:?8]k^Am

kAmpJCD9:C6D 7:CDE 42>6 E@ E96 &]$] 2C@F?5 `gaa H96? 2 r@??64E:4FE 72C>6C[ w6?CJ (] w:==D[ :>A@CE65 E96>] %96 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 H62E96C :? }6H t?8=2?5 H2D D:>:=2C E@ $4@E=2?5[ 2?5 }6H t?8=2?5 72C>6CD ?66565 2 52:CJ 4@H E92E H@F=5 8C2K6 C@F89[ C@4<J 72C>D 2?5 92?5=6 E96 4@=5 H:?E6CD] *6E E@52J[ E96 pJCD9:C6 :D A@AF=2C :? }6H t?8=2?5[ 2=E9@F89 E96 3C665 92D DAC625 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am

kAms@??2 |6CEK[ s'|[ C2:D6D pJCD9:C6 42=G6D 2E 96C 9@>6 ?62C q=2:C[ }63C2D<2]k^Am

kAm%96 x@H2 ?2E:G6 =@G6D E96 3C665 7@C D6G6C2= C62D@?D]k^Am

kAm“%96J’C6 G6CJ 962=E9J 2?:>2=D[” D96 D2:5[ “2?5 E96J 92G6 =@?86G:EJ] %96J =:G6 BF:E6 2 =@?8 E:>6[ 4@>A2C65 E@ @E96C 3C665D]”k^Am

kAm!2CE @7 E96:C =@?86G:EJ :D E96 D@F?5?6DD @7 E96:C 766E 2?5 =68D[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm“%96J DE2?5 FA @G6C E:>6 2D E96J 286[” D96 6IA=2:?65]k^Am

kAm$96’D 925 2 4@H E92E =:G65 E@ 36 `c J62CD @=5]k^Am

kAm|6CEK 2=D@ 2AAC64:2E6D E96 >:=< 4@>A@?6?ED] %96 3FEE6C72E 4@>A@?6?E 2G6C286D c]_ A6C46?E[ H9:=6 E96 AC@E6:? 2G6C286D 23@FE b]d A6C46?E]k^Am

kAm“%96 72E 8=@3F=6D 2?5 4@>A@D:E:@? @7 E96:C >:=< >2<6 :E 6I46==6?E 7@C 4966D6\>2<:?8[” D96 D2:5[ ?@E:?8 E92E D6G6C2= 52:C:6D H9@ >:=< pJCD9:C6D >2<6 4966D6 6I4=FD:G6=J 7C@> E96:C >:=< 2?5 2C6 H6==\<?@H? 7@C E96 4966D6]k^Am

kAm%96:C >:=< :D 9:89 72E 2?5 D66>D E@ 36 >@C6 62D:=J 5:86DE:3=6 7@C E9@D6 H9@ 42?’E E@=6C2E6 >:=<]k^Am

kAmpJCD9:C6D 2C6 ?@E ?@E65 7@C 92G:?8 >:=< AC@5F4E:@? 2D 9:89 2D w@=DE6:?D E9@F89[ |6CEK D2:5]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ 36 w@=DE6:?D :? AC@5F4E:@?[” D96 D2:5] “(6’C6 7@4FD:?8 @? H92E H6’C6 8@@5 2E[ 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ :>AC@G6 E92E]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Livestock sector struggles to fill labor need
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
C-B Charolais 40th Annual Production Sale
McCumber Angus Ranch Production Sale
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
From the field to the heart: one man's mission to change how farmers talk about mental health
Mitchell Tech students present research at Commodity Classic
Snap2Graze: grazing cereal rye really can be that simple
Hemingford FFA grows leaders for tomorrow

kAmpJCD9:C6D >:89E 2G6C286 a_[___ A@F?5D @7 >:=< 2 J62C[ 3FE E96C6 2C6 pJCD9:C6D H9@ 92G6 AC@5F465 =2C86 2>@F?ED @7 >:=<] p EH@\E:>6 C6D6CG6 8C2?5 492>A:@? 2E E96 ?2E:@?2= D9@H AC@5F465 ba[___ A@F?5D 2??F2==J[ 2?5 2?@E96C 4@H :? x==:?@:D E92E AC@5F465 @G6C ad_[___ A@F?5D :? 96C =:76E:>6 2?5 :D DE:== 8@:?8]k^Am

kAm|6CEK :D 2 “F?:BF6” pJCD9:C6 3C6656C[ 3642FD6 D96 C2:D6D E96 96:76CD H9:=6 E96 >:=< 4@HD 2C6 9@FD65 3J 7C:6?5D ?62C sJ6CDG:==6[ x@H2] $96 FD6D 6>3CJ@ EC2?D76C E@ 86E E96 86?6E:4D D96 H2?ED 2?5 92D 6IA@CE65 42=G6D 24C@DD }@CE9 p>6C:42] $96 CF?D 36EH66? a_ 2?5 ad 96:76CD 2 J62C[ 2?5 “x 5@?’E C646:G6 2 >:=< 4964<]” (96? D96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 >@G65 E@ q=2:C `d J62CD 28@[ D96 D2:5 :E H2D?’E 762D:3=6 E@ >:=<]k^Am

kAm%96 2?:>2=D H6C6 3C65 E@ 36 8@@5 2E CFDE=:?8 2?5 7@C286[ 2?5 E92E EC2:E D9@HD FA :? E96:C 7665 677:4:6?4J 2?5 4@?G6CD:@?]k^Am

kAm“%96J 42? 62E 2?5 4@?G6CE E96:C 7665 >@C6 677:4:6?E=J[ H96C6 :E E2<6D =6DD 7665 E@ >2<6 2 A@F?5 @7 >:=< G6CDFD @E96C 3C665D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 E96 3C665 :D?’E 2D A@AF=2C[ 76H6C F?:G6CD:EJ DEF5:6D 92G6 366? 5@?6 E@ G6C:7J E9@D6 724ED] “(6 <?@H E9:D[ 2?5 H6 D66 :E :? 52:CJ 96C5D[” |6CEK D2:5[ “3FE H6 5@?’E 92G6 E96 DE2E:DE:42= 52E2] (6 ?665 E96 F?:G6CD:EJ EC:2=D E@ AC@G6 H92E H6’C6 D2J:?8]”k^Am

kAm%96 G:8@C 2?5 DE2>:?2 @7 E96 pJCD9:C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 |6CEK 25>:C6D 2?5 2AAC64:2E6D]k^Am

kAm“x =:<6 E92E E96J 2C6 =@H :?AFE[ 2D 2 G6E6C:?2C:2?[” |6CEK D2:5] “x =:<6 E92E x 42? 8@ @FE WE@ E96 32C?X 2?5 :E 42? 36 a_ 36=@H K6C@ 2?5 E96J 4@>6 E@ E96 3F?< 2?5 62E] %96J 8@ 2=@?8 2?5 86E 2=@?8] x 5@?’E 6?5 FA 92G:?8 E@ 323J E96>] x 7665 E96>[ G244:?2E6 E96>[ 3C665 E96>[ 2?5 E96J 5@ H92E E96J’C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 5@[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE]”k^Am

kAm%96 @?6 5:D25G2?E286 |6CEK D66D :? E96 3C665 42? 2=D@ 36 2 DEC6?8E9] %96J’C6 DEC@?8\H:==65[ D96 D2:5[ “3FE E92E 2=D@ 96=AD H:E9 E96:C =@?86G:EJ] %96J 92G6 E96 H:== E@ =:G6[ 3FE E96J 42? 36 DEF33@C? 2E E:>6D]”k^Am

kAm%96 3C665’D G:8@C 92D >256 E96> DF:E23=6[ 2E =62DE :? E96 AC6D6?E 52J[ 2D @I6? E62>D] |6CEK <?@HD A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 C2:D65 pJCD9:C6 DE66CD E@ >2<6 2 E62> @FE @7 E96>] pJCD9:C6D 2C6 569@C?65 2D 42=G6D[ 3FE E96 9@C?D @? 2 E62> >2<6 E96:C =@@< 6G6? >@C6 “2FE96?E:4]”k^Am

kAm%96 &]$] pJCD9:C6 qC6656C’D pDD@4:2E:@?[ 32D65 @FE @7 r@=F>3FD[ ~9:@[ 5@6D 2 8C62E ;@3 @7 :?G@=G:?8 J@FE9[ |6CEK D2:5[ 2E E96:C 2??F2= 4@?G6?E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 BF:K 3@H=D[ 5:DA=2J 4@?E6DED 2?5 A9@E@ 4@?E6DED[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm(:D4@?D:? 2=D@ 5@6D D@>6E9:?8 F?:BF6 H:E9 E96 J@FE9[ 42==65 2 “$92JC\2\w6:76C]” %96 DE2E6 2DD@4:2E:@? 3FJD 2 96:76C 7C@> 2 3C6656C[ 8:G:?8 :E E@ E96 J@FE9 H9@ 92D H@? 2 HC:E:?8 4@?E6DE] %96 J@FE9 4@\@H?D[ 2=@?8D:56 E96 (:D4@?D:? pJCD9:C6 qC6656CD pDD@4:2E:@?[ E96 96:76C 7@C EH@ J62CD[ D9@HD 2?5 3C665D :E[ 2?5 3C:?8D :E 324< E@ E96 DAC:?8 D2=6] %96 8@2= :D E@ :?G@=G6 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6?’E @H?65 E96 DA64:7:4 3C665] $@>6E:>6D E96 $92JC\2\w6:76C :D H@? 3J 2 J@FE9 H9@D6 72>:=J :D :?G@=G65 H:E9 2 5:776C6?E 52:CJ 3C665 2?5 E96 J@FE9 5@6D?’E H2?E E@ D9@H 282:?DE E96:C D:3=:?8D]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 6?4@FC286 J@FE9 E@ 36 >@C6 :?G@=G65[” |6CEK 25565]k^Am

kAm}63C2D<2’D r2C= pD9@77 @C82?:K6D E96 “rC62> @7 E96 rC@A” 52:CJ D9@H :? (6DE !@:?E :? yF?6] %96 D9@H :D 2==\3C665D 52:CJ[ 2?5 96 92D 4C62E65 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C J@FE9 E@ D9@H 2== 3C665D[ :?4=F5:?8 pJCD9:C6D]k^Am

kAm|6CEK’D EH@ 52F89E6CD[ r2D6J[ 286 6:89E[ 2?5 w2=6J[ D6G6?[ D9@H pJCD9:C6D 2?5 65F42E6 E96:C 7C:6?5D H96? E96J 4@>6 E@ E96:C 72C>]k^Am

kAm“%96:C 7C:6?5D 4@>6 @FE 2?5 D2J[ ‘H92E’D 8@:?8 @?n’” |6CEK D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E E96 8:C=D 2C6 >2EE6C\@7\724E] “%96J D2J[ ‘WE96 4@HDX >2<6 >:=< 2?5 92G6 323:6D]’”k^Am

kAmk6>m#FE9 }:4@=2FD 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i65:E@C:2=o>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>Qm65:E@C:2=o>:5H6DE>6DD6?86C]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am

Ayrshire

Arrival in U.S.:

1822

Current number of head in U.S.:

18,500 registered females

National offices:

U.S. Ayrshire Association

1224 Alton Darby Creek Road, Ste. B

Columbus, OH 43228

614.335.0020.

info@usayrshire.com

Iowa Ayrshire Association

Facebook page: search for Iowa Ayrshire Assoc.

President Barb Rudy

515.205.5317

Interesting breed fact:

In 1929, to demonstrate the hardiness of the Ayshire breed, two Ayrshire cows named Tomboy and Alice were walked from association headquarters at Brandon, Vermont to the National Dairy Show at St. Louis, Mo. Both cows not only survived the trip but calved normally and went on to produce outstanding milk records of the time.

In this Series

Beef Breeds of the World

Updated Jun 10, 2021
Polled preference: Polled Herefords prized for personality traits, feed efficiency
Updated May 5, 2021
Best of both worlds
Apr 12, 2021
Braunvieh compliment other cattle breeds
28 updates