22 



the same or similar cows. This being the case, as all having any 

 experience must admit it to be, we might proceed to form an estimate 

 of the value of the bull. 



Suppose the herd considered be one of <20 cows a number quite 

 common in many parts of Canada. To keep oiip such a herd the 

 owner will need to raise from 5 to 8 calves a year say an average 

 of 6 yearly. Five of these heifers are likely to come to maturity 

 and each one will give, say, 5 Ibs. a day more milk than would 

 a scrub heifer under like conditions. The period of lactation being 

 about 300 days, there would thus be 1,500 Ibs. of milk more in the 

 year from one heifer. Since the life of the milch cow as such is 

 about 5 years, each heifer would be worth 7,500 Ibs. more milk in her 

 life than the scrub. There being 20 cows in the herd, these might 

 soon all be replaced and the 20 cows would in their lifetime be worth 

 150,000 Ibs. more milk than the scrubs. This amount of milk would 

 be worth, say, $1,500. This sum, therefore, represents the returns 

 from a good bull in the small herd of 20 cows. He would be worth 

 relatively more in larger herds. 



A really good bull calf of any one of the breeds commonly kept 

 in Canada can usutally be bought for from $50 to $100. Financially 

 it looks like a good venture. 



FEED AND CARE. 



No set rules can be given as to the care and feeding of the 

 dairy bull. One bull will do well on feeds that, if given to another, 

 would prove quite unsuitable. 



In the first place, the bull should receive considerable feed of a 

 buflky character. Oat straw, clover hay, corn stalks or stover, roots, 

 etc., are all desirable. By way of meal when in the midst of a hard 

 season, there is nothing better than a mixture of oats, bran and oil 

 cake in quantities sufficient to keep him in fair shape. A good 

 ration for a 1,500 pound bull would be: 



Lbs. 



Oat straw 5 



Clover hay 20 



Eoots or grass 30 



Meal mixture 3 



Give more meal if necessary. 



Certain methods of feeding and certain feeds are likely to render 

 the bull sluggish in action and uncertain in service. The feeding 



