Results of Idleness and Overfeeding 139 



repulsive to him and fails to arouse his sexual appetite ; the real 

 cause lies iu bad management. 



In some cases, there is a general depression of the sexual de- 

 sire, especially in those animals which are lethargic or of a 

 phlegmatic temperament. In very active, nervous animals this 

 peculiarity is rarely seen. It is most common in draft stallions, 

 but is observed in bulls, especially of the beef breeds, and in all 

 kinds of male breeding animals. 



The tendency to loss of vigor on this account increases with 

 the age of the animal. It is usually not noticeable in the young, 

 but, as soon as the animal has become mature and grown quite 

 fat, the disposition becomes marked. This form of impotence is 

 seen almost exclusively in those animals which are closely con- 

 fined, highly fed and not properly exercised. It tends to disappear 

 promptly upon a correction of the method of keeping, providing 

 that it be applied sufficiently early. The most careful search 

 fails to find any anatomical reason for the difficulty, and it seems 

 to be of a purely functional character. The difficulty should be 

 prevented by not forcing the young male designed for breeding 

 purposes too rapidly in his development, but by allowing him 

 only a moderate diet, with plenty of exercise and freedom, and, 

 whenever practical, permitting him to consort with females dur- 

 ing his period of growth. 



Upon the appearance of these defects in the mature animal, 

 much can be done, if handled opportunely, by restricting the 

 diet and causing an abundance of exercise. In our experience, 

 a healthy draft stallion refused almost wholly to serve mares. He 

 was being highly fed and was getting a very limited amount of 

 exercise, at a slow walk. Being appealed to for advice, we re- 

 duced his food ration one-half and prescribed eight miles exerci.se, 

 daily, at a brisk walk. Within a few days, his sexual desire had 

 fully returned. He finished his season's work in good form, 

 and was effective as a sire. The same general principles apply 

 to other breeding males. In countries where cattle are habit- 

 ually worked, the bulls are largely kept in breeding condition by 

 moderate draft service. It might be well to imitate this plan in 

 America, where they are not habitually used for work purposes, 

 but could readily render considerable service, while being greatly 

 benefited by the vigorous exercise which would be secured in 

 this way. Under general conditions, it is perhaps the best pos- 

 sible and most economic manner in which we can insure sufficient 



