262 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



sure to follow, in their neglect, of losing one or two years' use 

 of their cows, and the insubordination sure to follow their own 

 mismanagement, and want of good husbandry. There are cir- 

 cumstances, however, in the locality, and other conditions of 

 even the good farmer and dairyman, when it may be poUcy to 

 keep their heifers to three years, before bringing their first 

 calves, and those we leave to their own proper judgment. It is, 

 however, both possible, and profitable, to make the best of dairy 

 cows from heifers casting their first calves at two years old. 



REARING AND TREATMENT OF BULLS. 



A ball intended for getting thorough bred, or grade stock, 

 should be well fed from his birth, whether he be nursed at the 

 udder, or the pail. There is no necessity for forcing his growth 

 — ^he is rather the worse for it. His growth should be steady, 

 and made on milk, a little oat, pea, or barley meal, and grass or 

 hay, according to the season, for five or six months. If he be 

 only intended for breeding grade, or stock cattle, six months on 

 milk will answer; if for breeding thorough breds, seven, or even 

 eight months is better. After weaning, his food should be sue 

 culent and nourishing, not rich. "We are aware that in thorough 

 breeding, it is the disposition of many breeders to feed inordi- 

 nately high, so as to make "show" calves of their young bulls. 

 But the practice is not a good one for the future bull. He 

 arrives at earlier maturity, it is true, but at the expense of last- 

 ing usefulness. A calf may be so forced as to make the size in 

 one year, that he would make in eighteen months of moderate, 

 yet good keeping; but it is to his future disadvantage, and quite 

 unnecessary, as he should not be used, other than very sparingly 

 — better not at all — at a less age than two years. 



He should be tied up when but a day or two old, and as soon 

 after, as convenient, learned to lead. He should also be learned 

 to eat herbage as soon as he will take to it, say at a month, or 



