SELECTION OF THE HERD BULL 171 



in keeping a bull in good condition so as to retain his breeding 

 powers are to avoid excessive use when young and to give 

 plenty of exercise and a moderate ration when mature. 



A box stall 10 by 12 feet with a ground floor is as suitable 

 as any for such an animal, when he is to be kept in the barn. 

 A strong paddock outside should be provided, with a door 

 from the box stall. In all except severe climates the bull is 

 best housed in a shed built in the paddock. All the protec- 

 tion necessary is a good roof and tight walls to serve as a 

 windbreak. Exposure to any but severe weather is beneficial 

 rather than injurious to the breeding bull. Such open-air 

 treatment, with the precaution that the animal gets plenty of 

 exercise, will keep the bull in the best breeding condition, and 

 he will be as sure a breeder at eight or nine years as at two. 

 This open-air treatment causes the animal to look somewhat 

 rough, and for this reason does not find favor with those who 

 make a business of selling breeding stock, since the appearance 

 of the herd bull is of importance in making sales. 



For those who prefer the herd bull to make the best appear- 

 ance at all times, the best plan is to use a box stall in the barn, 

 and see that the animal is outside only on fair days. Special 

 attention should be given to exercising the bull under these 

 conditions. 



Where more than one bull is used, they may be kept together 

 with advantage in a suitable paddock. There is no trouble 

 or danger in keeping two or more bulls of any age together, if 

 they be dehorned. One of the chief advantages is that they 

 take more exercise than when confined alone. 



One of the most common plans of exercising the bull when 

 kept closely confined is by the use of a tread power. In 

 some cases he operates the cream separator regularly, and 



