FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 319 



greater production, greater size and stretch than those 

 receiving no grain on pasture." 



Feeding the dairy bull. Many persons neglect the bull, 

 and feed him very meager rations, so that he often looks thin 

 and poorly fed. The bull should never be fat and in high 

 condition, but he should look in good muscular form, full of 

 vigor and ambition. He should have plenty of suitable 

 hay and feed of concentrates in which protein is abundant. 

 If he is at the head of a large herd and in service, then he 

 should be fed about the same amount of nutrients as a 

 dairy cow, otherwise less food is needed. From 5 to 10 

 pounds of grain a day may be fed, depending upon the size 

 and work of the animal. Some persons object to silage for 



Figure 137. Dairy cows on pasture. Photograph by the author. 



the bull, thinking that this food makes him sterile, and do 

 not feed it, but in the author's experience it may be fed 

 satisfactorily if in not too great an amount, as 10 or 12 

 pounds, for example. Prof. Larsen, however, states* that 

 he has discontinued feeding silage to dairy bulls in service. 

 Some succulent food, however, is desirable, and in summer 

 green food may be fed, and in winter sliced roots in small 

 quantity are recommended. 



Exercise for health and vigor is a most desirable 

 thing for the dairy bull. At the Ohio State University for 



*Farm Dairying, 1919. 



