Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-05-01
DAIRY
FACTS
DAIRY SIRE OFTEN
BADLY NEGLECTED

The dairy sire Is often the most
neglected animal on the farm. There
| are two factors which are largely re.
sponsible for this condition. First, the
| average farmer has not been con-
vinced of the important place which
the well-bred sire holds in building up
the production of the herd. Although
the bull represents so per cent of the
future herd he often receives less than
| so per cent of the care he deserves
from his owner. On many farms the
bull is required to stay most Of the
time during the winter months in q
dark, damp stall without sufficient
space for proper exercise, and is fed
largely on cottonseed meal and low
grade roughage. Such treatment not
only reduces the vigor Of the bull, but
often results in either temporary or
permanent sterility.
The second fector which is partly
responsible for the poor care which
the bull receives is his nervous tenn
permanent. This makes it necessary to
handle him with care to avoid acct
dents. The press frequently carries
reports of persons being injured or
killed by bulls. Because of such oc-
currences, dairy bulls have come to be
sary evils. This attitude, coupled with
low appreciation Of the value of the
herd sire on the part of the owner, re-
suits in neglect of such essentials as
feed, exercise, removal Of manure from
the stables and such other details of
care that are necessary.
The ration of the bull may be much
the same as that for the herd. Many
breeders feed him the regular herd
grain mixture. However, this Is not
advisable if this mixture contains a
high percentage of cottonseed meal,
as many breeders think that it has a
tendency to cause impotency. A grain
mixture composed Of 300 pounds corn
meal, 200 pounds wheat bran, 200
pounds ground oats, and 100 pounds
soy bean meal is recommended when
fed with legume hay. Enough grain
should be fed to keep the bull in a
vigorous physical condition, but not
too fat, which tends to make him slug
gish.
The roughage part Of the ration
should be made up Of legume hays
and small allowance Of silage.
Legume hays are rich in protein and
mineral matter and are valuable in
keeping heavily used bulls in condi-
ton.
Heavy feeding Of silage has ten
dency to distend the paunch and make
the bull less active on his feet. From
10 to Is pounds per day can be fed
with safety.
The daily bull should have plenty of
good pure water. He should be wa
tered at least once per day in the
winter and twice per day during the
summer
The main things to be considered in
housing the bull are safety in hand
ling, comfort and provision for exer-
else. His stall should contain an
abundance of light and be connected
with a paddock if possible so he can
exercise at will. When the bull has
a tendency to be sluggish it is advis-
able to place an empty barrel or tree
stump in the, paddock with which he
can exercise. Where paddock can
not be erected, good method of Civ
ing him exercise is to have heavy
wire stretched between two stout
posts. The lead rope from his ring
can be tied to a ring on the wire,
which will make it possible for him to
exercise along the wire.
BY proper methods of feeding and
management, the potency of the dairy
bull or his ability to sire good calves
can be greatly conserved and the dan
ger of being injured by him Is prac-
tically eliminated.-J. A. Arey, In
charge Office Of Dairy Extension
North Carolina Agricultural College.