328 CATTLE-BREEDING. 



similar unhealthy states are very apt to make 

 the heifers shy or uncertain breeders, and very 

 difficult to get with calf. With the young bulls 

 the case is somewhat different, for while it is 

 not desirable to have them in high flesh they 

 must be kept growing vigorously, and if they 

 are used early they will demand rather more 

 food after they are put to service than before. 

 Hence at the time that young heifers are being 

 cut down in ration the bulls between one and 

 two years will very likely need to be fed a lit- 

 tle more. High-fleshed heifers, where they 

 have good pasturage, will often be better off if 

 not fed at all in addition to their grazing ; but 

 young bulls in order to retain the highest vigor 

 must be regularly fed on grain. 



One of the questions which thrusts itself upon 

 us in regard to young stock is as to the wisdom 

 or unwisdom of fitting them for the fairs. To 

 speak in broad and general terms I regard 

 obesity as always an evil and often a serious 

 danger; and our fairs in nearly all cases seem 

 to demand a high condition of flesh, amounting 

 in most cases to obesity, as a condition of suc- 

 cess; yet it must be admitted that under a year 

 old there is little serious risk in preparing stock 

 for the show-ring. Yearlings fall into a very 

 different category, and as they are in the most 

 critical epoch, especially for the females, the 

 greatest care and prudence is demanded. It 



