REARING AND TREATMENT OF BULLS. 265 



elled." (In frontispieces, Vols. 5 and 6, American Short-horn 

 Herd Book.) He was useful ten years, beginning his service at 

 two years, and during that time, Colling seldom used any other 

 bull in his large herd of thorough bred cows. The bull Marske, 

 (418, E. H. B.,) a famous animal, bred by Robert Colling, 

 and many years used by him, died at the age of fifteen years, 

 and was useful for thirteen years. These, and others which 

 might be named, are examples which our breeders of blood cattle 

 may well look to — ^provided they do so with proper discrimina- 

 tion — and profit by it. 



When a bull evidently loses his vigor, and conception by him 

 becomes uncertain, he should be put aside, as his uncertainty 

 may adhere to his coming stock — a fault always to be avoided. 

 "We -believe that more bulls are spoiled by forced feeding, and 

 over-service when too young, than in any other way ; and when 

 one is possessed of a bull of really choice blood, a careful hus- 

 banding of his use should be looked to by his keeper. 



The bull should always be kept on substantia], nutritious food; 

 never suffered to become poor, nor fat, but always in good 

 working order. He is a surer sire in such condition, than when 

 pampered and over-fed. "When little, or not at all used, his food 

 may be slackened to simple grass, hay, or cut feed, with a little 

 grain meal mixed. "When much used, his food should be 

 increased, and of better quality. Oat or barley meal produces 

 more muscular flesh, and seminal and muscular vigor, than the 

 fatty, sugary meal of corn ; and muscular and seminal vigor is 

 greatly serviceable in procreation. Sugar-producing food, in 

 breeding animals of either sex, may be hurtful, as demonstrated 

 in the previous remarks quoted from Professor Tanner, and Mr. 

 Stewart, on barrenness. 



The quantities of extra food to be given to a bull in the season 

 of service to cows, cannot here be particularly stated. It will 

 depend much on the size of the bull, and the extent of service 

 12 



