Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 176, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1911 — Care of the Dairy Sire [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Care of the Dairy Sire

By P.H. CRANE.

Dairy Department, Purdue Experiment Station

The care of the dairy sire is one that has received considerable attention, but in spite of this fact, the half nt the herd embodied in the herd bull, is very frequently given too little or Improper care. In many herds will be found bulls that are kept continually In a box stall, where they receive but little exercise, see other members of the herd but seldom, and too often receive feed and water very irregularly. Such conditions are not conductive to health and good service. Animals unifier such conditions often become over fat, slow in service, and frequently cross. The herd bull must be cared for in a manner that will keep him in good health, and make him a sure and quick breeder. The question that should be considered, after knowing what is desired, is, how can these conditions be brought about with least expense and labor? There are a great number of different methods of caring for bulls that give very good results, such as keeping the bull tied in a stall along with the remainder of the herd, giving him a chance for exercise every day either

In a lot alone, with other bulls, or by snapping a rope from his ring to ring on a wire a few feet above him. Another good method is to have a box stall built so that the bull can see the other animals of the herd and in addition to such quarters, it is well that he have opportunity for more exercise than is possible in a box stall. All of these methods require a little more worli than is always necessary. An excellent method Is one now used In connection with the Purdue experiment station herd. This method allows all the bulls to run together in a bull pen connected with a shed that is tight on three sides and open on the south. It should be dry and have stalls, in order that the bulls may be shut up when the cows are taken into the pen to be bred. The above illustration shows a view of the pen and shed where the bulls of the Purdue Dairy Herd stay the year around. A water tank m the pen supplies the water and the bulls receive their feed through small doors in the north'side of the shed. Under these conditions the hulls are kept in good breeding condition and are quick and sure In service.

Bull Pen and Shed, Purdue Dairy Herd.