The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-19


so that they-may be forced to matur-
ity as rapidly as possible. 1t often
pays to keep them up during the day
and allow them to Craze at night in
order to escape the flies and make
more rapid gains. II baby beeves
are sufficiently well bred and well
fed. they should be ready for market
at the end of the second summer or
soon afterward.
The pure bred calves that are ready
for sale should be kept in fit, condi-
ton for the buyer by feeding them
some. grain, but they should not be
too fat. ~ - =.
CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE
BULL
Since the bull Is the sire of all the
calves produced and has as much TO
do with their quality as the re-
maipder of the herd, it is important
not only that he be good in
dividuaL but that he receive good
feed and treatment.
Most beef bulls are raised by too
heavy use at an early age which
makes them uncertain breeders ever.
afterward. A beef bull is not so active
nor does he attain to sexual maturity
at so early an age as a dairy bull;
therefore, the number of services a
season should be limited. we'll
grown bull between IL and "a months
Of age may, be used on from lotto ID
cows to test his prepotency. for he
is. able to transmit his. characteris-
tics to his offspring as well as an
older bull and his first calves are
a good indication of his value as a
sire Age does not affect prepotency
but care, management and feeding do.
Age, however, does affect proHficacy,
and if used TO, any great extent the
immature bull will not prove a regul-
ar breeder.
A two-year- bull may serve 40
cows, season. a well-grown three
year-old bull so cows, and mature
bull two cows a day during the. breed
ing season. In all cases the SER
vices should be distributed SO that
the breeding powers of the bull are
not affected. A bull should remain
vigorous and reliable breeder up
to 10 years of age. and he is at his
of the best breeding bulls have been
sacrificed to the, butcher long before
they reached their prime and before
their actual value as sires was known.
Extrem'dly fat or extremely thin
bulls are uncertain breeders. The
bull should be kept in thrifty condi-
ton at all times by the use. of sue
culent feeds and a well-balanced ra-
ton when grain Is necessary, and by
receiving plenty. of exercise regular
ly, especially during the periods when
he is not being used for breeding pur-
poses.
When grass Is available the bull
should be kept largely on pasture and
grain should be fed only when he
shows signs Of going down in condi-
ton. During the period of the year
when cattle cannot be on pasture the
mature hull should maintain himself
largely on roughage and be fed only
enough grain to keep up his body
weight. A satisfactory grain ration
for the bull when he Is on pasture or
being fed leguminous hay consists of
six parts oats, three parts corn, three
leguminous roughage is being fed, the
bull should receive one and one-half
pounds of cottonseed meal or linseed
oilmeal each day.
The bull should be housed In an
open shed, or weIl-ventilated, not
drafty, building with an open, grassy,
strongly fenced paddock to which he
has access at all times. With pure
bred cattle or In grade herd small
enough so that record can be kept
of the breeding of each COW, the bull
may be kept in the paddock and the
cows brought to him for service when
they come in heat This arrange
ment requires more care on the part
of the breeder than II the bull runs
with the cows during the breeding
season, but fewer bulls are required
and less danger that the bull will
break fences and, make himself gem
orally disagreeable about the neigh
borhood.
Beef bulls In general are more quiet
and Emphatic In disposition than
dairy bulls Beef bulls are noted for
their docility and good tempers, and
uiiCop 5oUuoGu ai SOAnO tiihS vi OthGA
should be gentle and trustworthy. All
bulls should be rungS when quite
young. Quiet bulls should be hand
led with strap snapped in the neck,
while bull staff should be used with
wild bull. A bull should be hand
led on foot rather than with horse,
as horse is unable to move quickly
enough TO escape an enraged bull In
close quarters. The bull should not
be bothered or handled unnecessarily.
All that is necessary is to keep his
quarters sanitary, to provide plenty
of water. shelter, grass, salt and to
trim his feet and clean his sheath
whenever necessary.
MARKETING
No section of the United States has
more consumers In its midst in pro-
portion to its area than has New Eng
land. Here are located the great
manufacturing and meat consuming
centers of America: Here are locat-
ed the great centers of Jewish pop
ulation whose faith requires that only
freshly killed meats can be consum-
ed. Here are the great points of
export from which both meat and live
animals are shipped to, foreign mar
or IN hn no QtArn SfQtaQ