114 THE MANAGEMENT AND FliEUING OF CATTLE 



inserted in the nose. Usually this should not be de- 

 ferred beyond the age of one year. 



The rings in common use may be obtained in 

 hardware stores, and are of different sizes. Those 

 most commonly used are about 2>4 to 3 inches 

 in diameter. When inserting them the head of the 

 animal should be tightly drawn to a post or other firm 

 object, so that the muzzle points upward at a suitable 

 angle. A hole is then made with a suitable implement 

 through the cartilage between the nasal passages. For 

 making the opening a large awl will answer the purpose 

 in the absence of a better implement, but one of the best 

 implements is a trocar. The opening should be forward 

 rather than backward in the cartilage. The ring is then 

 inserted, the two parts are brought together again, and 

 they are held in place by a small screw. Much care 

 is necessary in putting the screw in place, as it is easily 

 lost on account of its small size. When thus ringed a 

 strap or rope with a spring attached, which may be 

 snapped into the ring, is all that is necessary for a time 

 when leading the animals, but later it is a wise precau- 

 tion to use what is termed a " lead " when handling bulls. 

 A lead is a strong, tough, circular piece of wood 4 to 5 

 feet long, with a snap attached to one end. The advan- 

 tages are : First, that the attendant has power to hold 

 up the muzzle of the bull, which, in case of attack, is so 

 far effective; and, second, that it enables the individual 

 to keep his head at a distance. 



Food for mature bulls. — When bulls are much used 

 in service prior to maturity, the food fed to them should 

 be highly nitrogenous, as they have then to bear the 

 double task of completing growth and furnishing the 

 materials concerned in generation. When full maturity 

 is reached a less proportion of protein in the food will 

 suffice. But this also is influenced by the extent of 

 the service required of them. The more severe the 

 exaction of the service is, the larger is the percentage 



