FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION 37 



the raising of your own stock from a high class sire is tc your 

 advantage. I think the bull is the first and last thing in the 

 dairy business and you have to have him first, because you can- 

 not get along with cows that produce 200 pounds of butterfat 

 a year, so you want to start with a high class bu.ll. . 



In regard to feeding the bull. In our section we have lots 

 of alfalfa hay w^hich makes the feeding of the bull a very simple 

 matter. Alfalfa hay makes pretty nearly an ideal ration for a 

 dairy bull. This may be supplemented with eight or ten pounds 

 of silage. During the season of heavy breeding you will have to 

 supplement hay wuth oats or other grain. A little oats at any 

 time are an excellent feed, but not much grain should be fed ex- 

 cept during special seasons. Red clover may be used if you 

 liaven't alfalfa. A little linseed meal is also desirable at times. 



Q 



A 

 O 

 A 



Suppose you have got cotton seed meal? 



I would not substitute it for linseed meal for the bull. 



How much cottonseed meal to cows ? 



I have fed as high as four pounds a day without any 

 bad results. Much cottonseed meal will produce bad effects in 

 horses, swine, beef cattle and sheep, but not in milk cows. I have 

 fed many tons of cottonseed meal and never saw any bad effects. 

 But to a bull I would not feed any. Linseed meal is cheaper 

 right at the present time and I never put the two feeds on the 

 same basis. There is an unmistakable tonic value in linseed meal 

 which cottonseed meal does not possess. If you can buy cotton- 

 seed meal at a low price I would not hesitate to feed some of it 

 to the cows. 



Q: What about the neighbor bringing his cow in to be 

 bred to your bull ? 



A: I don't allow it. I draw the line here when I am not 

 certain that the cows are all right, because I don't believe that 

 any man can run a chance. If you know that the cows are all 

 right, it is different. The thing least understood in the dairy 

 business is the getting of a good bull and when you have him 

 keep your herd clean. Tell your neighbor you cannot run any 

 chances by breeding his cows unless you know they are free from 

 disease." (Applause). 



