18 



I)i:i'ART.MENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BULL. 



Bull calves of the dairy breeds are usually raised on skim-milk supplemented by 

 a fairly liberal grain ration, the object being to obtain good growth without too 

 much beefiness. A little flesh will not do any harm. 



In summer the natural feed is green stuff with a little grain. In winter, clover 

 or alfalfa hay \vith a good allowance of roots, and for grain a mixture of oats, corn, 

 bran, and linseed-oil meal, will give good results. 



Bull calves should be separated from the heifers before six months old, but can 

 run with other bull calves of about their own age. 



AGE TO USE. 



Most bulls can be used for light service at ten or eleven mouths, 

 week is enough at first. Later this number can be increased. 



One cow per 



Guernsey bull, " Pilot of the Glen." 

 RINGING THE BULL. 



At about one year of age the bull should have a ring put in his nose. This 

 provides a means of controlling him. The bull's head must be tied securely. The 

 ring is vaseliued and a circular hole cut through the cartilage between the nostrils. 

 A bull-punch is the proper instrument to make the hole, but a trocar can be used 

 as well. After the ring is closed and the screw inserted, it should be sandpapered 

 if there are any rough edges. He should not be handled by means of the ring until 

 the wound is perfectly healed, because if so hurt he will become difficult to catch. 

 A good staff and a strong ring are the only safe means of leading a bull. 



IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE. 



Hardly one dairy bull in a hundred gets sufficient exercise to keep him in proper 

 breeding condition unless he runs with the herd, and the latter is bad practice. It 

 is dangerous because no bull is safe at large. Many persons every year are killed 

 by " quiet " bulls. Furthermore, when the bull is out with the cows, the owner 



