Feeding Dairy Cattle 



great thing for the comfort of our animals and their c;ire- 

 takers will have been accomplished. When this has been 

 done bulls may be turned together and they will get a great 

 deal of exercise pushing and ramming each other around and 

 will be much quieter and easier to handle. 



Exposure to the weather will do no harm and is a positive 

 factor for good if the exposure is not undue. Practically all 

 that is needed, except in very severe climates, is a shed closed 

 on three sides and open on the warm side to the paddock, 

 where the bulls may run. 



In herds where only one bull is kept, additional mean; 

 must be provided to secure more exercise than the bull will 

 take of his own accord. Then in herds where sales are going 

 on all the time, and it is necessary to keep the herd bull in 

 more or less of a show condition, he must be regularly exer- 

 cised in a more artificial manner. A tread power will do this 

 or he may simply be led or driven. The important thing is 

 exercise and plenty of it. One of the most valuable bulls of 

 the Holstein-Friesian breed is given two miles every day on 

 the road. The owner considers that the time thus spent is 

 more valuable than the same titne spent in any other way. 



The feed that the bull is given must be commensurate 

 with the service and his condition. He should not be too 

 fat, but must be in good rig. Clover or alfalfa hay, ten to 

 fifteen pounds of silage, and two to ten pounds of grain, is 

 indicated. The silage should be restricted or he mav 

 become too paunchy to reach the cows. The grain mixture 

 may be the one given above or a similar one, or may be the 

 regular grain mixture given the herd. It should not be fat- 

 tening, but should be rather bulky with plenty of protein, 

 with at least a pound a day of oil meal. 



In conclusion, we again call attention to the great value 

 of the bull, value lost sight of because it is not so apparent 

 each day as is the daily milk yield of the cows, but there, 

 nevertheless; and to the great necessit}- of exercise for the 

 aged herd bull eA^ery day, and then more exercise. 



Page One Hundred Six 



