FEEDING THE BULL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 299, 2 December 1936, Page 3

FEEDING THE BULL

Good Rearing from Calf

It is poor policy to select a bull, no matter how good his ancestry, if he be not a good individual in himself. To be a good individual, he must have beer reared properly from culfhood, and i j is in this proper rearing that many bulls are ruined. When there is an abund ance of pasture, and some lucerne hay for the halves at night, there is littlf need to feed any grain or concentrates When pasture is low, however, and there is nothing but skim milk, the young bull should receive grain or con centrates in some form, and every eflort should be made to keep him growing steadily. Young bulls, which are properly grown, and properly exercised, are fit for light service at an early age. A bull may be given one or two cows when he is a year old, but his vigour, and growth, are likely to be severely cheeked if he be given more work than this.

The bull should be trained to lead, and to obey, from calfhood. He should be taught to lead with a halier, until he is ten or twelve months of age, when a stout ring should be inserteo in his nose. With the old-fashioned ring it was necessary to punch a hole in the nasal septum, but wHhithe new style of ring, the sharp edged end oi the ring, when opened, will be sufficient to make the hole. When the ring is purchased, the screws may be taken out, and the sharp end polished and smoothed, so that it wilj pass quickly through the septum, without tearing it. unduly. When the ring is passed through the two ends will be joined together, and the screws replaced. Rings are made in copper and aluminium, but the coppet ring is preferrable, because it is stronger. An ordinary halter is usually all that is necessary to hold the bull firmly, while the ring is being inserted. Thu rope from the, halter should be secured to a tree or post. Except in very severe climates, a bull needs no more quarters than an open shed, with a paddock in which he can exercise himself. A good type of bull "shed is on e fitted so that the bull may bo fed through a -window in the wall which obviates the necessity for the at tendant entering the yard. The shed u built in the corner of a service yard.