Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-13
Management Of Bulls.

in the Waterman, is sound doctrine, and
worthy Of tho attention of those who would
improve the common stock of the country by
the use Of thorough bred sires as well as
of those who breed the latter. II has always
been our custom to treat stock animals in
the way suggested. Our last stock bull, in
use until nearly six years old, ran 10 the pas
turo with the cows always in summer and in
the yard in winter.
DR.. II. says:
Now that those interested are having
their attention forcibly drawn to the dete-
rioration 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
unfriendly to the perpetuation Of the good
qualities developed by the improvers Of the
various races.
"Improved" stock is not essentially i'm.
proved, in the true sense of the word. "a
healthy wild animal, a wild boar, or a wild
bull, cannot be improved upon, simply as an
animal. lie is just as good boar or bull,
regarded simply as one of the animate crea-
tion, as can be. What is effected by their
domestication, and the changes following
thereupon in the hands of the skilful 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. Bod.
les are made to assume different shapes; tc
grow to larger size, the beast is made to
yield more milk or more wool, and this is
what we mean by Improvement" Some
very important characteristics of the wild
stock--notably their power of selEpreserva'
tion--may be almost entirely lost in the
change. In remodelng these creatures so as
to yield the most profit to men, we are con.
stantly in danger of weakening some funda-
mental characteristic upon which our whole
artificial structure must stand. We may
make the bones SO fine that they cannot sup.
port the body may so twist the vital course
away from its natural course, in this way OF
that as to weaken the constitution fatally
and cause the profitable changes to be under.
mined, and all to be lost in the ruin of the
whole organism upon which we have been
experimenting, often with inadequate knowl
edge Of the wonderful animal mechanism
and its essential requirements.
1t is particularly in regard to the male
animal Of the bovine race that these dangers
are encountered. His chief use to us is il
his provocative power, and for that alone he
is kept as a perfect male. AS usually
managed, ia the case of the so.called thor
oughbred, his life is an utterly unnatura
one. lie is kept in stall, or box, till h(
is turned away from service to the butch
er. If a show beast, he is pampered tC
develop his show points. His male progeny
selected to replace him in succeeding genera
tions, arc constantly subjected to the sam,
treatment, and in time must become entirely
artificial creatures. But can this be so con,
tinued through many succeeding generations
without undermining essential vital charac
teristics, with the result of a final loss, mo-
only OF the acquired points of profit. but o
the ability to live and propagate at all
Maniiestly not, we think any inteligen
Psychologist would say.
This matter is one deserving Of close anC
immediate attention from breeders OF liv,
stock. Unless something is done to maxi
the life of bulls more in accordance with thu
natural laws governing animal health anC
vigor, some of our improved races are il
danger of suddenly melting away under ou
very hands, and disappearing. Pamperiui
for show purposes should never bo practiceC
with breeding stock, either male or female
A proper amount of exercise should be reg
ularly given, and grazing animals be allowed
to live by grazing during the season Of graz
ing. These we are sure are essential require
ments, and experience will make
manifest, even to the least considerate of ou
breeders of improved stock, within n YER
| short time