THE FEEDING AND CARE OF BULLS I23 



more freedom that has been given to bulls, the longer 

 can they retain breeding capacity. 



Bulls that are vicious. — It sometimes happens that 

 viciousness develops in bulls with advancing age. This 

 may result from want of tact and judgment in managing 

 them, but, in other instances, it is the outcome of in- 

 heritance. Courage and firmness are essential qualities 

 in those who handle and care for bulls, as the animal, 

 in its own mute way, soon comes to understand when 

 it must or may not render implicit obedience. But with 

 these qualities a prudent wariness and caution should 

 be blended. Viciousness more frequently develops in 

 bulls of the dairy breeds than in those of other types, 

 owing, probably, to the greater extent to which they are 

 characterized by a nervous disposition. 



When a bull is known to be vicious and is not pos- 

 sessed of any superior value, the better plan is to dis- 

 pose of him as soon as practicable by sending him to the 

 shambles. Nor is it desirable to breed from vicious 

 bulls when the viciousness manifested by them is the 

 outcome of inheritance, as the dangerous characteristic 

 may go down to the progeny. But when viciousness has 

 developed in a valuable bull whose ancestry were not 

 thus characterized, its presence is not to be attributed 

 to inheritance, and is, therefore, less liable to be trans- 

 mitted. It is not only permissible, in such instances, to 

 retain such an animal in the herd, but it may be desir- 

 able to do so. Instances are numerous where bulls of 

 this class have been retained for years for service, after 

 it came to be known that they were vicious. In man- 

 aging them, however, at no time should the attendant be 

 off his guard. 



Vicious bulls may be most safely managed when 

 they are kept tied in the stall. This may, in some in- 

 stances, result in impotency, but such a result is not cer- 

 tain to follow, especially if the bull has reached maturity 

 before being thus confined. When given the freedom 



