8o6 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [ii Dec, 1911. 



BUILDING HINTS FOR SETTLERS. 



XV.— BULL YARD AND SHED. 



T. A. J. Smith, Chief Field Officer. 



Every dairyman and breeder of cattle should have a bull yard and 

 shed. The cost is small and the trouble of feeding and attention slight, 

 while the advantages of the system are many. The dates on which cows 

 are served can be ascertained with greater accuracy, and the bull's ser- 

 vices not taxed to an undue extent. A bull so kept is able to serve 

 quite 15 per cent, more cows, with less loss of energy, than if allowed 



Scale 2 in. to 9 Ft 

 PLAN OF BULL YARD, WHITFIELD. 



to run with the herd. There is practically no risk of injury through 

 fighting with other animals, getting into drains, fences, and the various 

 other difficulties that a bull at large is liable to encounter. A wandering 

 bull is, moreover, a constant source of trouble to his owner and the cause 

 of many quarrels between neighbours. Consequently, the expense of the 

 yard and trouble of looking after the bul-1 are more than compensated for. 

 The site of the bull yard should always be on a rising piece of 

 ground with good drainage on one or two sides, a fair slope being no 

 disadvantage. The shape can be square, round, or octagonal, according 

 to the builder's fancy, but that of the one illustrated has proved more 

 useful than either a square or circular yard. The triangular corner is 

 very convenient when driving a refractory animal into its box, or for 

 catching a hor.se. 



