THE CARE OF THE BULL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 65, 10 December 1907, Page 2

THE CARE OF THE BULL.

..J , ™ ago (writes an American 1 iii Hoard s Dairyman") a, neighbour purchased a'fine young Guernsey bull about a year bid.' , Ihis animal had been reared and by a man who instinctivoly understood what treatment a "young breeding animal should have if good' results were to be expected fi-om him. Tho other day we called at the purchaser's farm to louk at the animal, expectins; to se'o a well-kept, well-developed bull, for he certainly gave good promise .of such development' when a yearling. On the contrary, we found a poor, ill-kept, stuntt-d specimen, cooped up in a dark, filthy liolo of a stall, showing plainly that he; had bad no care that such a bull should 1 have. The owner seemed surprised when we rather mildly protested against such treatment of a valuable breeding animal. The difficulty wa3, that' the" man did not have a right understanding of how to treat a bull. 'He had no idea that such bad handling would be reflected back in ihe character of the offspring. We have seen numerous instances of just this wretched handling of valuable bulls. A farmer will pay a good, round price for a well-bred bull, and then proceed to do everythingriri his power, as it were, to destroy, his breeding power. Such men have never given 'themselves any thought or study on the proper care of a male. It is too bad to see a nice animal fall into such hands. " '.■'■■■ ,' -.: '\- A bull should.be .kept clean and dry.tin a stall, with plenty of-light'and fresh air. Hβ should have an abundance of nourishing food, and regular work ,of some kind overy day. There is no exercise like. two hours a day on a tread power. He should bo kept growing as long as-lie will grow. To stunt his growth by neglect is to lessen his potential power as a; breeding force. Tono "and vigour should shgw in .every part of him. Too many farmers do cot have aiiy judgment on this matter, keeping a male in the right condition to hriiig vigorous offspring. Wo do not. mean that he should bo pampered, but ho. must be kept vigorous and in the best of breeding condition. ■