The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-07-12
Common sense and The Buii.


IL Is perfectly naturalfcra bull TO fight.
His skull Is thick, his horns are strong,
his neck il tough and stout. He is alto
gether . powerful animal, and usually
has 3 great deal OF vital power. We must
take the bull as he is. When young, he
can be trained and made q tractable ami
NAL, or he car be played with, when he
will do things quite cunning for q calf,
but more serious and dangerous when
older. For these reasons the bull calf
should never be trified with; his ears
should never be pulled, his horns petted,
nor his head and neck stroked. IL these
playful ways are INDUCED in they will
teach the bull to throw his head around
when approached, and make 1t risky to
60 neal him. The bull calf should be
tied up with q halter, which should 20
behind his ears and around his nose, and,
like the halter Of q horse, sure 10 fasten
as well as to lead him. He should be
trained to stand aside when any person
goes BY his side and to step back at the
word and remain quiet when groomed or
united. He should be taught to back
up and follow whoever leads him at q
proper distance. A stout ring should be
put into his nose while he Is not over a
year old, and a string should be fastened
to this ring 8 inches long. for a week, to
take hold Of to turn the ring while the
wound is healing. In no case should any
one attempt to catch hold Of this ring, as
the bull will resent 1t. When the wound
in the cartilage is healed the string should
be cut off. To perforate the cartilage for
the ring I use a three-cornered file, and
being careful to pull the end of the O
forward so that the file shall not touch
the gristle at the END Of the bone. Push
1t through the thin membranes, cutting
a slit a full half-inch wide. Through
this slit a ring is thrust and then it is
joined securely. There is no blood and
very little pain.
A bull should never be fastened BY the
ring, unless it becomes necessary on &C
count of restlessness and danger of get
ting loose. Whenever this is the case he
should also be fastened with a very strong
strap around his neck as an extra precau.
ton. and it he is ugly and dangerous a
rope with a slipping moose should also be
put about his neck. This rope should be
fastened overhead and out of the way
The object of this security is that If the
bull does get loose he will be choked
down. If bulls are thoroughly broken
and trained when young, and properly
fed, they will rarely be wantonly vicious
They should be broken or trained to obey
like an o The bull is capable of doing
a great deal of work, and should be made
to do it. He may be worked singly OF
with a near OK.
When the bull has been trained to b.
led by a halter, to back up at the word
and to stand around, he is more thar
half broken for use in the yoke. TIL,
bull can expend his energies at work
rather than in believing, paving, ant
making day and night hideous with hi
roaring. He will be a better sire ant
more active, besides not being dangerous
This is the safest and best way to manag'
a bull, and to reduce the cost Of his keep
ing. A pure bred bull of the most cost,
kind is the better for working in a team
and the risks of accident and trouble ar
reduced by such care and labor. I'll
bull will soon become fond Of his mat
and really enjoy his company. A bull
a social being, and nothing tends to d.
velop ugliness more than solitary cor
fnement. One at Kirby Homestead
kept in a back stable, was becoming res
i've and ugly, but, when moved to
stable with his head by an open window
where he could see every one going {
and from the barn-the dog, the chi
dren, the horses. and the cows when the
passed to and from the pasture-becam
quiet and gentle.
Another bull, which had broken hi
leg when a yearling and had been care
for by my wife, would call to her whe,
he saw her and would come across tn
field to lick salt from her hand. Another
fed at her hand. when young, witt
apples OF salt, never forgot his friend
and would turn as far as possible to look
and even recognized her step as well a
her voice. Notwithstanding these evi
dences of affection and gratitude, a bull
is NOT to be trusted. No animal can b,
enraged Sc. easily. and when one is en-
ragged it is dangerous to attempt to drive
him or to handle him. AZ such time.
they should be let alone, and when tn,
excitement is yer they a be managed
IT. d. Curtis in American Agricultur
list.
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Convenient Substitute for Ice.
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