Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-19
Feeding and Sheltering Colts.


/. matter of raising colts. With universal
: love for the horse, and the means to keep
and raise them almost equally extensive, our
people still pay little or no attention to the
purity of breeds or the necessity Of judi
cious crosses, in order to preserve and i'm
prove those breeds which have proved of the
greatest value In this matter, however, We
are glad to say there arc some signs of i'm
provement But there is another matter con-
nected with the breeding Of horses that de-
mands attention, and that is the care of the
colt. We refrain from saying what is the
usual mode of sheltcring and feeding colts in
most parts of New England, but that it is
generally characterized by lack Of good judy
mcpt we thi nix those who have studied the
subject will not deny. On this subject, Tho {.
S. Lang, Esq, of North Vassalboro, Presi-
don't Of the Maine Agricultural Society, COM
muncatcs the following remarks to the Maine
Farmer, which we commend to the attention
of all engaged in breeding horses
GAS the season has arrived when stock.
growers find it necessary to put their stock
into winter quarters, perhaps it may not be
amiss to make few remarks upon what ap.
pears to be the best methol Of housing and
feeding colts.
1t is my impression, that too little care is
taken, both in protecting colts from our in
clement winters, and i'll selecting the right
kind Of food suited to age and wants of this
class of stock So far as my observation ex-
tcnls, those farmers who raise colts, for the
most part, think it Of little consequence how
colt is lodgel or aosomno lated, provided
they find enough for it to cit. Now, L am
led to believe by some slight experience, that
it is really very important that weanlings and
yearlings be thoroughly protected from the
cold and wet during the fall and winter.
1t was very important that no injury
should happen to the constitution Of an ami
NAL 50 susceptible as colt during its first
year, the future usefulness Of the animal be-
ing in proportion as its constitutional powers
are sound or unsound. That uusoundness
may be the effect Of Intercollegiate it
may occur by Inheritance from the dam or
sire, I do not doubt but this is equally
true, that sound colt may be ruined by
neglect, and its constitution 50 impaired dur
ing the first year of its life, that no after
care or treatment can restore it. The form
and symmetry Of the future horse, are to
great degree developed during this period
Although under the hardest usage, we see
the general coniguration Of the parents, yet
good treatment during the first eighteen
months may be said to give figure, symmetry,
sprightliness, buoyancy, and that peculiar
grace of movement rarely observable in ami
mails whose first winter was passed in SILVER
ing over straw or meadow hay, in cold
barn.yard or barn.
It is fact we'll established, that large
proportion Of the food which should 90 to
develop muscle and bone, and to form strong
joints in growing animals, goes to sustain an
lmal warmth when animals are left exposed;
therefore less size strength and spirit are the
result Animals nlrturel under sloh cir
cumstancas, must, necessarily, 60 to grass
comparatively weak, and are extremely liza
BILE to accident to the joints and muscles the
following summer. They have not stamina
enough to sustain the shocks and bruises in
cident to unrestrained freedom. Give colts
warm stable we'll ventilated yard well
protected from winds, she'd to protect
against wet, under which they can 60 at
pleasure, and you will not only raise them
cheaply, but have the satisfaction of seeing
healthy animals when ready for use or mar.
ket.
Now as to feed My method of feeding
may be far from the best, but the results are
more satisfactory than any other plan know.
l will quickly adopt better when any one
will show better results.
To commence with the dam while preg-
nant, endeavor to keep her in thriving
condition, not fat, but in excellent working
order-working her moderately until within
two or three weeks of foaling. At this time
commence giving from 6 to 5 qts. scalded
oat meal this feed is increased as appears
desirable, as the time of ioaling approaches.
This is done in order to produce a large Sc
2 erection of milk; continue this feed for three
or four weeks after foaling. This treatment
will insure large, strong, well'formcd colt,
in almost all cases.
Three months after foaling, commence CIV
ing the foal handful of oats daily, which
, are gradually increased until the foal is four
months old, at which time he should, in most
cases. be weaned, Many excellent stock
, breeders keep the foal by the dam five or six
J months, and many give cows milk after wean-
, ing, but when the dam is kept breeding this