244 MANUAL OF FABM ANIMALS 



few herds, even the best, in which the intelligent application of 

 these principles will not result in marked improvement. 



THE DAIRY BULL 



The bull is of prime importance in breeding dairy cattle. We 

 have already observed that the male is concerned with so many 

 more individual offspring that his influence is much more ex- 

 tensive because of the increased number he influences. To 

 secure the improvement in a herd of cattle through the females 

 would require the use of twenty-five or more superior cows to 

 accomplish the same results that might be secured by the use 

 of a single bull, and even then there would be less uniformity 

 in the offspring. This is due merely to the fact that the bull 

 controls one-half the characters in the entire crop and not to any 

 special prepotency on his part. 



Choosing a dairy bull. — In choosing dairy bulls, it may be 

 noted that they have mp,ny points in common with the dairy 

 cow, particularly features of type, such as were fully discussed 

 in the chapter on choosing a dairy cow, page 189 ; but it is a 

 much more difficult task to choose a bull than it is to discrimi- 

 nate between cows. 



The first and most important attribute is good pedigree, 

 based on a record of performance. Not only should the dams 

 in the pedigree have good records of performance, but the 

 males should also be getters of performers. The longer the 

 line of high-producing ancestry, the more certain are the off- 

 spring to be high producers. 



After having satisfied ourselves with respect to the pedigree, 

 as based on records of performance, then we may take into 

 account the individuality of the bull. In no case should one 

 sacrifice individuahty, no matter how. perfect, for performance. 

 It would be unpardonable to choose a bull, if he was so weak 

 as to be unable to propagate his kind. The constitutional 

 vigor and prepotency are indicated to a certain extent by the 



