The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-19
'Mmhe Esat,tt&
How to Treat Breeding Mares.

A poor half-starved mare will bring ;
puny weakling into the world. The phyis
ical condition of the colt depends upoI
that of the mother. Not only does he de
rive from her the principal of life, but the
conduct of the vital processes in her consti
tute the agencies which mold his entire
bodily organism-bone, sinew, tendon
muscle, and all. The health of the mother
can not be affected without corresponding
detriment to the fetus. 1t is through the
medium of her digestion and circulation
that the latter is nourshed and matured
If she is well fed, the colt receives his share
of the benefit, and if she is impoverished,
the colt will be the same.
To feed the mare with foal upon strong,
heating diet is great mistake. What she
needs is moist, nutritious food, such as can
be easily digested and will keep the bowels
loose. In winter-time, or at any other
season when she is steadily worked, chop
ped feed, with provender, is the best. In
no case let her be gorged with corn: but it
corn meal, as provender, made moist and
thoroughly soaked. If it is in time of pas
ture, she will need no other feed. In the
latter months of CESSATION the food may be
increased. She requires more at this peri
cd, having both the foal and herself to sup
port, and the former now draws heavily
upon the mother for his sustenance; yet,
while she should never be allowed to fall
off and become poor, very full, plethoric
condition is decidedly Objectionable. In
fact, it is still more hazardous to her than
the reverse.
Concerning the qualities Of the feed, too
great care is impossible. At this time, of
all others, the food should be pure, nutri-
tious, and wholesome. Mouldy hay or fod-
Ger, or injured grain, should be scrupulous-
ly excluded from diet. Possibly the moth
er might resist its injurious effects, but
the foal must inevitably suffer, and might
be ruined entirely. Thousands of colts are
in diseased condition, induced by the
unhealthy food upon which the mother has
been compelled to sustain the lives of both,
Another consideration of importance is
the amount of labor the mare may peri orrn.
1t is better for her to do light work, a.tleast
up to within seven or eight weeks of foal-
ing, at which time she should b., relieved
OF all service, unless it be some occasional
mild exercise. She should. also, about
this time, be removed from other animals.
that she may not be injured by them. At
no period should she be assigned any very
hard labor, Or be subjected to severe strains.
AS she nears the time of foaling, she should
be kept where she can be easily watched,
so that if any difficulty arises during par
turition assistance may be rendered prompt
ly.
During the time of sucking, the mare
should receive the best of attention, Her
food should be generous, wholesome, and
abundant. 1t should never escape the
mind Of her keeper that She now has two
lives to support, and the. tax upon her
which the colts necessities occasion is very
great. Occasionally, s. brs n-mash may be
given-rye-bran, if ii can be obtained; and
at all times plenty Of Ct .opped feed, good
sweet hay, and oats will be Just the diet
for her. But abstain from feeding her any
corn. If pasture can be produced, she will
do better on this than upon any thing
Else. As feeding the mare is feeding the
colt also, nothing should be allowed her
that can injure the latter, as some articles
of food or medic inc may do without SER
lousy affecting the stronger organism of
the mother.
After thirty days, if she is again in sea-
son, the mar @ may once more be put to the
horse, If tf 9 owner is determined to have
her oring a colt every year. But to this
Is Craze objection. In all of the animal
creatlc,n- state of pregnancy injuriously
atfe cts the character of the milk afforded
the sucking offspring. Better colts can
be raised by breeding the mare only every
second year.
The labor of the mother should be quite |
light beginning not before month or six
weeks of-foaling. Except for specially |
urgent reas ons, the colt should never be |
prevented from running with the mother.
If the foal is sound and healthy, he will |
need no special attention until the time of
weaving, which will generally be at the
end of about six months. But upon this
point no arbitrary limitation can be- es-
tablished. The condition and develo-
ments Of the colts must determine r
matter. If the youngster is t. 'nis
weekly, he should be allowed .lh anu
with the dam for month " reii"in
and in extreme cases even Il TWO loheer'
Fall colts should alwr more IMAM 'ilis'
mothers milk till t. 'ys De allowed tne
Spring. Many f. e grass comes in the
soon. and the. Al colts are weaned too
harrenness y nearly perish during the
This mis-, and inclemency of Winter
,.,, y. .saken practice seems to be the
fall .igin of the common belief that the
colt is not SO good as the one foaled in
spring. 1t is impossible that he should be,
under such mismanagement;f for the rigor
of Winter is more than the young crea-
ture is able to bear when left to shift for
himself. Let him be allowed the help OF
the mothers milk until the young grass OF
Spring affords him suitable substitute
If this is done, he will often be found in
advance of the yearling that has been fed
during the Winter.-dmerican Stock Journ
al
lhOuf EnrUinU