Ayrshire

The Ayrshire was developed in the county of Ayr in southwest Scotland, on ground that is wet, cold and not especially generous, and the breed reflects it. They are red and white, moderate in size, and hardy in a way the specialist dairy breeds are not.

What they are known for is udders. Ayrshires have among the best-attached, best-shaped udders of any dairy breed, which matters for mastitis rates, for milking speed and for how many lactations a cow lasts.

They graze well, they calve easily, and they stay sound on rough ground, which makes them a fit for pasture-based dairying rather than confinement.

The trade is that they lead in nothing. They give less than a Holstein and their components sit below a Jersey's, so the case for an Ayrshire is the whole animal over many years rather than any single figure on a milk cheque.