THE FEEDING AND CARE OF BULLS 121 



commonly purchased when young. When so purchased 

 the temptation is present to use them in service at an 

 early age. That much harm has resulted from this re- 

 grettable practice cannot be gainsaid. On the principle 

 that like begets like, it would seem reasonable to sup- 

 pose that transmission from such males would tend to 

 reduce size and to influence adversely stamina in the 

 herd, in addition to hindering maximum development in 

 the bull. It is questionable, therefore, if young bulls 

 should ever be used in service under the age of one year. 

 In breeding pure-bred cattle, the temptation is peculiarly 

 strong to use in service, at an early age, sires which have 

 sprung from distinguished families because of the favor- 

 able influence which such inheritance exerts on sales. 

 The inevitable result is that high performance in those 

 families cannot be long maintained. 



It is admissible to use young males in service be- 

 tween the ages of one and two years when occasion calls 

 for it, the times of service being most frequent during 

 the earlier portion of the period. An occasional service 

 should not harm the young sire, on the principle that 

 the generative organs will be strengthened by judicious 

 use. It would be impossible to state precisely the num- 

 ber of cows which a sire should be permitted to serve 

 in the yearling form, owing to the difference in develop- 

 ment in animals of similar age, but it would seem correct 

 to say that the aim should be to mate such sires with not 

 more than a score of cows. 



After bulls have reached the age of 24 to 30 months 

 there would be no good reason why they should not be 

 used with much freedom in service until the vital forces 

 begin to weaken. This would mean ordinarily that they 

 may be used freely in service from the age of, say, 30 

 months until indications of waning power appear. When 

 bulls are judiciously managed, such indications should 

 not appear until they have reached the age of, say, seven 

 to eight years. 



