64 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



sire; one who is old enough to have daughters in milk and 

 who are good producers. Many of our best sires in all the 

 dairy breeds were sold over the block before their value as 

 a breeder was known. 



The bull calf designed for breeding purposes should 

 be well fed during the growing period, in order that he may 

 develop to the full limits of his inheritance. If he is poorly 

 fed during the growing period, he may fail to reach his full 

 size." His offspring may be smaller on account of the sire 

 being undersized. 



Until he is five months old he can be with heifer calves 

 and receive the usual ration of the calves in the herd. He 

 should receive skim milk until he is six months old, and a 

 liberal allowance of grain composed of a mixture of 30 

 pounds of barley, 30 pounds ground oats, 30 pounds wheat 

 bran and 10 pounds oil meal. He should have free access 

 to good legume hay. 



At six months the skim milk can be discontinued or, 

 if more skim milk is available, it can be fed at a profit until 

 the calf is a year old. After six months old, he should be 

 separated from the other calves and placed in clean quar- 

 ters where he can get sunlight and exercise. At the age of 

 12 to 15 months, he can be used for light service. 



The sire should never be allowed to run with the herd. 

 He should be broke to lead and should always be handled 

 with a staff. 



All good dairy animals have a highly developed nerv- 

 ous system which has the tendency to make the bulls cross. 

 The practice of letting the sire run with the herd is danger- 

 ous on this account. 



It is a common occurrence that people get hurt or killed 

 by a cross bull. To be on the safe side, the bull must al- 

 ways be handled as a dangerous animal. 



