BEARING AND TREATMENT OF BULLS. 263 



six weeks. A strap head halter is the best fastening for him. 

 At nine months, a ring should be put in his nose, and the way 

 to do it is this: The ring should be of copper steel, or iron 

 will answer, but it corrodes more than copper. It should be two 

 and one-half inches diameter inside. It should have a joint in 

 its circle, about two inches in length, and when in place, fastened 

 with a small screw, or rivet. When ready to insert, put a 

 strong rope around the horns, and draw the head of the bull 

 close to a post, by this halter, that he may not throw it about ; 

 then seize his nose, and with a small, sharp pointed instrument 

 a three cornered saw file, with the point sharpened, is the best 

 run a hole quickly through the thin cartilige behind the nostril, 

 which is there not more than a quarter of an inch thick; give 

 the file a turn or two, then put in the ring, close it together, 

 either screw, or rivet it, and the work is done. Little blood will 

 follow the operation, and scarce any soreness. In a week when 

 the soreness is healed, the leading snap, or strap may be put into 

 it, and he can be led. Some herdsmen use only a rope, or leather 

 halter for leading their bulls, and many of them are so gentle as 

 to be so trusted; but our own rule has usually been to have a 

 strong stick, six or seven feet long, with a link or two of chain, 

 and a snap hook at the end, to hold him at arm's length in case 

 he should be too playful, or possibly vicious. A young bull may 

 be easily made vicious by improper treatment, and when once he 

 becomes so, and knows his power, he is hard to be broken of it. 

 Some are so from birth, naturally, but more are made vicious by 

 improper treatment. 



As bulls are treated when young, will their usefulness longer, 

 or shorter, be retained. A yearling, as we have observed, should 

 scarcely ever be used, and only on extraordinary occasions, when a 

 calf of his particular strain of blood is required, and cannot be 

 obtained by a postponement of his services. At the age of 

 two years, he may serve fifty to a hundred cows during the 



