Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-09
Management OF Bulls, Etc.

Now that those interested are having their
attention forcibly drawn to the deterioration
of improved breeds and its causes, it Is well
to enquire whether the manner in which the
males are kept is not in most cases I'M
friendly to the perpetuation of the good quail
tiles developed by the improyers OF the
various races.
Improved " stock is not essentially inn
proved, in the true sense of the word.
healthy wild animal, wild boar, or a wild
bull, cannot be improved upon, simply as an
animal. lie is just as good boar or a bull,
regarded simply as one Of the animate crea-
ton, as can be. What is effected by their
domestication, and the changes following
thereupon in the hands Of the skilliul stock
breeder, is only such alterations in their
form and functions, as make them more
profitable to mankind. Their native vigor,
strength, provocative power digestion, etc.
etc, are not increased by the change. Bodies
are made TO assume different shapes to grow
to a larger size, the beast is made TO yield
more milk or more wool, and this is what we
mean by improvement" Some very i'm
portant characteristics of the wild stock
notably their power of self-preservation-
may be almost entirely lost in the change.
In remodeling these creatures so as to yield
the most profit to men, we are constantly in
danger of weakening some fundamental
characteristic upon which our whole artiii-
cial structure must stand We may make
the bones so fine that they cannot support
the body; may 80 twist the vital force away
from its natural course, in this way or that
as to weaken the constitution fatally, ane
cause the profitable changes to be under
mined, and all to be lost in the ruin of tn,
whole organism upon which we have beer
experimenting, often with inadequate knowl
edge of the wonderful animal mechanism
and its essential requirements.
1t is particularly in regard to the mali
animal of the bovine race that these dangers
are encountered. His chief use to us is il
his provocative power, and for that alone h
is kept as a perfect male. As usually man
aged, in the case Of the so-called thorough
bred, his life is an utterly unnatural one
lie is kept in a stall, or box almost from hi
birth till he is turned away from service t.
the butcher. If a show beast, he is pampere
to develop his show points. His male prog
eny, selected 10 replace him in succeeding
generations, are continuously subjected I
the same treatment, aud in time must b,
come entirely artificial creatures. But ca
this be so continued through many succeed
ing generations, without undermining e
sential vital characteristics, with the resll
of a final loss, not only of the acquired poin
of profit, but of the ability to live and pro
agate at all ? Alanifestly not, we thin
any intelligent Psychologist would say.
This matter is one deserving of close al
immediate attention from breeders of H.
stock. Unless something is done to mai
the life of bulls more in accordance with Il
natural laws governing animal health al
vigor some of our improved races are
danger of suddenly melting away under OF
very hands and disappearing. Pamperii
for show purposes should never be practic,
with breeding stock, either male or femal
A proper amount of exercise should be re
ularly given, and grazing animals be
lowed to live by grazing during the seas'
of grazing. These we are sure are essenti
requirements, and experience will make
manifest even to the least considerable of O
breeders of improved stock, within We
short time.