80 N. C. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



early, before the plants had time to mature a maximum amount of 

 digestible feed. In such cases they have had silage of low feeding value. 

 Others have been obliged for various reasons to leave the corn standing 

 too long, so as to become dried out. Such corn does not carry sufficient 

 water to make the silage moist enough to prevent rotting. If the corn 

 is cut when it is well glazed with the stalk still green, and when put into 

 the silo cut fine, evenly distributed and thoroughly packed, there will 

 be very little loss providing the silo is tight and reasonably well con- 

 structed. 



Corn silage is one of the cheapest and best feeds that the dairyman 

 can provide for his herd, and if every dairyman in North Carolina 

 could feed corn silage in liberal quantities, dairying in general would 

 be more profitable and the average production of the cows of the State 

 would be materially increased. 



Herd Improvement. 



Our breeds of cattle have been developed and improved by a few 

 thoughtful men who realized the value of good stock. The dairymen 

 of this State can materially improve the quality of their stock if they 

 will go about it in a careful, systematic manner. It is a pleasure to 

 note that there are a number -of excellent herds in the State that have 

 been developed by progressive, energetic men. 



To improve and develop a good dairy herd much depends upon the 

 herd bull and his ability to get calves that will mature into better cows 

 than their dams. It is a common mistake among dairymen to think 

 that it makes very little difference what kind of a bull their cows are 

 bred to, just so they get with calf. Such ideas are largely responsible 

 for the low average production of the dairy cows in many of our States. 

 It is unreasonable to expect to secure strong, vigorous, healthy, high 

 producing offspring from immature nondescript sires. There are en- 

 tirely too many grade and scrub bulls scattered over the State for the 

 welfare of the dairy industry, and until the people in general realize 

 the importance of securing better breeding stock there is little hope 

 for improvement. It is a common thing to find a yearling bull in 

 active service, and perhaps he is given an opportunity to serve three 

 or four times as many cows as he should rightfully have considering his 

 age. Early breeding is responsible for loss in size and vigor very 

 frequently. 



Care and Management of Bull. 



If it is necessary to use the yearling bull he should be well grown 

 for his age before he begins service and receive the best of care from 

 that time on. By the best of care is meant plenty of good, clean, sub- 

 stantial feed that will keep him growing and keep up his vigor. The 

 ration should carry considerable protein and should always be sufficient 

 to keep him improving. At first, one cow a week is sufficient and as he 

 grows, develops and matures the number may be increased, if it is 

 necessary, so that he may serve one or two a day when he is mature. 



