46 



v'ciWy as his appetite increases. A grain mixture of three part- 

 ground oats, three parts of wheat bran, and one part oil cake 

 meal makes a good ration. Give him access to some fine alfalfa 

 hay. Nothing is better for the development of his frame. Let 

 him have the run of a small pasture where there is good pas- 

 turage, or, in lieu of this, furnish him with some fresh green 

 alfalfa daily. Remember that a young growing bull likes to 

 hiivt his belly full all the time and consequently must ha\ e hay 

 or green fodder where he can eat when he wants to. 



Allow him plenty of exercise. Don't keep liim penned up too 

 closely while he is young. Teach him to lead by a haUer and 

 show him his master at an early age. Look out for lice on his 

 bo.-y If they appear in great numbers they will sap his vitrOit-/. 

 Ar, occasional washing with a coal tar disinfectant will keep 

 them under control. Provide him with a good shed closed on 

 three sides, so that he can get out of windy, rainy wciiher. If 

 there are no trees in his pasture, he will use this shed as a pro- 

 tection against the hot sun also. Never allow anyone to tease 

 or fool with him. Furnish him with fresh clean drinking 

 water. 



After he is six months old, he should be kept by himself and 

 not allowed to run with the heifers or rest of the herd. The 

 feeding of milk can be discontinued but he should get froni two 

 to four pounds of grain daily, together with all the alfalfa hay 

 and green fodder he will clean up. 



AA'hen he is a year old, he should have a ring put in his nose, 

 and he should thereafter be led by a staff . Never trust him at 

 any tini'.\ even though he appears harmless, for it is ilie ''gentle" 

 bull that is most usually the cause. of some obituary notices. 



I should not advise the use of a bull under a year old, for 

 service, even though he be well grown and vigorous. It is a safer 

 plan to wait until he is a year old, so as not to retard his growth. 

 During his first year in service, he should not be used much 

 oftener than once every two weeks, and never be allowed to 

 serve a cow more than once. He must still be kept vigorous and 

 growing, and forced to take exercise if he is to reach maturity 

 in prime condition. If he has been properly fed and handled 

 during his first two years, he will be valuable for many more. 



When mature, care must be taken not to overfeed him. Age 

 gives him a tendency to become lazy and put on fat easily, both 

 of which impair his usefulness. Give him simply enough grain 

 and roughage to keep him in vigorous condition, but not enough 

 to allow him to get fat. Exercise him daily, because if he gets 

 lazy he is not a sure breeder. Keep him in sight of the herd, 

 but separated from it by a strongly constructed fence. Use a 

 little common sense in the way he is handled and used during his 

 reign as the "head of the herd." 



