Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-19
The Management of the Bull.

(Lamert 5. Corbett, Professor OF Animal Indus.
try, q. Of NJ
We read and hear much concerning
the feeding and care Of dairy cows and
heifers, yet although the truth of the
old saying, "the bull is more than half
the herd'' is universally accepted, we
hear very little said about the proper
feeding and care that should be allotted
to this Wy important part of the dairy
business. The reason for this apparent
apathy is doubtless because there is a
greater fund of evidence and knowledge
pertaining to the females. There has
been a great stimulus to the collection of
data pertaining to cows for it is from the
dam that the direct income Is realized.
Many cattlemen have come TO the real
izstion that bull with superior ances-
try is absolutely essential to the building
up of a profitable herd and do not hesi
tate at the item of cost when making
the purchase. When considering the
raising of a young animal to head the
herd, the item of cost should not be con-
sidered with some idea Of economy as in
the rearing of the heifers. From the
birth of the young bull il should be the
practice of the owner to see that he gets
the best of care and feed in order that
he may make the maximum growth and
development. There are no definite
data 10 prove that an unthrifty condi-
ton of the sire as regards to growth and
size caused by improper feeding and care
will have a deleterious effect upon his
offspring, yet everyone Is aware that the
visitor or prospective purchaser passing
through the barn wonders whether this
condition of undersize is the result Of
poor feeding or poor breeding.
The price now offered for skim milk is
quite attractive compared to what 1t was
a couple of years ago, however, in the
opinion of the speaker, the investment Of
skim milk in young bull will be amply
returned with interest in later years.
Bulls are seldom wesned later than SIX
months Of age, IL possible continue feed
ing the skim milk, even if only in small
quantities until they are eight, ten, or
even twelve months old. The aim should
be to produce growthy, thrifty animal,
this end can be secured with more GER
tainty through the feeding OF milk with
grain and good roughsge than by the
pursuit of any other course.
The young bull should be separated
from the other calves at six months, q
small ring placed in his nose and taught
to lead. This ring will last about one
wear. when another and larger ring
should replace it. At the end OF the
next wear another extra heavy ring
put in. A weak ring in the nose OF a
strong bull often spells disaster.
After the bull is 12 months old he may
be used for light service. but should not
be used literally until after two years OF
age. 1t is quite generally conceded tnat
using young bulls to excess causes early
impotence. To some this may not sp-
pear to be an important point for many
cattlemen do not keep their bulls stter
they have attained an age OFF, or years
This practice should be discouraged Tor
a bull will have but few, il any, daugh-
ters in milk at this age, snd bis value
will still remain unknown. -
IL is absolutely essential to the well
being of the bull that he receive exer-
else. This may be provided by housing
him in a cheap shed adjoining an exer-
cising yard or paddock to which he has
free access, or he may be turned out at
certain times each day. Some dairymeu
use a tresdmill for exercising their bulls,
others tie him to tight wire suspended
overhead in such manner as to allow
more or less liberty, but yet always ID
their control. We have used both meth
ods with Indifferent success. For our
conditions we have found that the most
successful method of exercising our
bnlls is working them under a yoke. we
have trained without difficulty eight
bnlls of different breeding to work under
the yoke, and have been we'll satisfied
with this system as a means OF securing
the necessary exercise that the sire must
have to remain potent.