GENERAL CARE OF CATTLE. 363 



How necessary this is may be illustrated by 

 the ordinary treatment which a stallion mak- 

 ing a heavy season requires and always receives. 

 No. one would expect a horse to do heavy service 

 in the stud on pasturage, however good. On 

 the contrary, the stallion is carefully housed and 

 fed on the most invigorating food, given a regu- 

 lar quantum of exercise, and in most cases used 

 only at certain hours of the day. Why a high- 

 bred bull should not receive the same care can- 

 not be explained. In just the degree of approxi- 

 mation to such care the actual treatment is, 

 in that degree will the excellence of results 

 be. A breeding bull returns in his calves full 

 measure for the care given him, and enough 

 strengthening food must always be fed him to 

 render him lusty and vigorous. 



Now this does not mean that the bull is to 

 be overfed. A thin-fleshed bull, running out of 

 doors all the year, is certain to be a surer and 

 better breeder than an over-stabled, overfed 

 one. Obesity leads to lazy, sluggish temper, 

 and a general decay of bodily vigor. Nature 

 abhors extremes. The via media is always the 

 wise way. There is no sense in shying at the 

 ditch on one side only to back into that on the 

 other. What is wanted is a bull that is in good 

 condition; that will at the same time go eagerly 

 to the feed trough and eat up his feed quickly 

 and entirely; that will serve a cow promptly 



