Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1898-06-07
AS TO BULLS.

Gradually but surely will cattle
growing be transferred from the range
to the ranch, and breeders will realize
that the greater profit is found in the
higher grades and thoroughbreds
,, Anent which the following extract
conveying much wisdom and observal
ton is commended to those interested.
1t is surprising how many people ard
still patronizing that scrub bull rather
than get good one of their own.
There seems to prevail a deep-root-
ed belief that bull is a sort of neces-
sary demon that goes travelling up and
down the land seeking whom he may
destroy. 1 will venture to say that
wherever there is a vicious bull there
has been bad management in nine
cases out of ten, and in most of these
nine cases the error has consisted
either in allowing children to tease or
strangers to handle the animal, or in
OVERRIDING the matter of caution in
treatment
Here are some OF the rules I have
found essential in the successful hand
ling of the bull:
L. Never be more severe with him
than absolutely necessary but always
be prepared to enforce reasonable de-
mands upon him.
2. Never allow any one to convince
you that pitch-fork is the proper vea-
pom to use upon the bull 1t is not SO
8. Keep the bull stall locked and
the key in your pocket. Strangers
have no business there.
T. Never allow but one person to
handle him. The bull and his keeper
soon learn each other thoroughly, but
any innovation coming from a strange
openly resented.
8. If you must have a ring get some
one else to put it on. That operation
is pretty apt to enrage his bullship and
most bulls have memory so it is best
to have him angered at some one who
does not have to handle him.
6. Don't regard the bull as so very
different from your other stock He
appreciates kind treatment and resents
abuse more emphatically than any
other animal of your herd in all prob,
ability.
Z. When you hear any man relat-
ing how he has subjected unruly bulls
by means of pitch-forks, scythes and
similar barbarous weapons, set him
down either as a fool or a liar. Don't
let the children listen to him.
3. If possible procure your bull
when he is quite young and then keep
him. The common practice of pur
chasing yearling in the spring to use
through the season aud then una off
in the fall for beef is quite IL line with
Straw-Stack barns; the stock from |
such immature animals is inferior
9. Personally 1 have found the bull |
a very agreeable gentleman to get |
along with. The one L Tow own, a !
registered Durham, is four years old |
unringed, with horns as nature made |
them, and he and l are the best friends |
He is as gentle as kit |
ten, though l never trust to his gentle
ness, but never put myself in his pow
er except when absolutely necessary !
and l have him so arranged that those
occasions almost never come. At the !
same time | never give him occasion !
to think that l avoid him in the least |
10. It has seemed to me that amid |
all the recent interest displayed among |
farmers in up-to-date methods of car
ing for stock the bull has been serious |
ly neglected by the agricultural press, |
so | send these few notes hoping the |
Farm Journal will add one more to its |
long list of valuable innovations on