The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-27
Fam / I l,ou |, gllts tor
Fam Readers
FEED, CARE AND MANAGEMENT
OF BROOD MARE. ss 4

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FEED, CARE AND MANAGEMENT
OF BROOD MARE.
The proper care and management OF
the brood mare is one OF the most
vital points to be considered In the
production of horses. So much of the
success or failure ia due to this part
OF the work. A careful study of the
methods practiced on the most sue
cessfuI horse farms reveals that al
though there may be some minor
points of difference, there are certain
well defined rules which must be adj
hered to If the best results are to be
expected
1t Is universally recognized that
nothing but mature mares should be-
used ii good, strong colts are to be
reared. Another point is the import
ance. of exercise. This seems to be
one OF the most essential features In
the estimation of most successful
breeders. This may be accomplished
by allowing the mares to remain out
of doors most of the day during the
winter season and all of the time when
/ the weather is mild and favorable.
In those sections of the country where
the winters are not too severe and
E the ground is not covered with snow.
grazing for part of their ration serves
an excellent means Of securing the
much needed exercise. Where some
care is used in the fall of the year in
not allowing the pastures to be too
closely grazed, thus leaving an abund-
ance of grass, it will provide much
feed of the very best kind during the
winter months. Grass, cured in this
way, is better than hay, as it contains
just as much nourishment and in adj
dition has a most favorable influence
on the digestive system. Where such
grass cannot be had some corn fodder
should be scattered over the pasture
some distance from the buildings to
encourage and secure the desired ex-
ercise.
The above method is especially de-
strable on farms where horse breeding
Is practtced on such an extensive scale
as to make 1t impossible to secure
exercise in any other way. On most
farms such method Is not necessary,
as the same end may be secured by
means of light work. The belief held
by some that work Is Injurious to the
brood mare is wrong. Light, regular
work Is one of the very best things
for such an animal Heavy, irregular
work, especially during the latter part
of pregnancy, must be avoided, else
serious results may be the result. All
good horse breeders recommend light
work whenever 1t is at all practicable.
In the largest and best established
horse breeding districts of France the
majority of the horses are produced
by small farmers who do all of their
work with their brood mares. The
colts are sold when about twelve
months old to the dealers, who ma
ture and sell them for breeding pur-
poses to other countries. In this way
they claim to be able to produce the
very highest type of. horses The
mothers always have sufficient exer-
else, thus, as a result, strong, healthy
foals are secured, which always make
much better horses than those reared
I from dams which have not been regu-
larly exercised and overfed.
In most sections of the country
spring foals are reared The fall foal
seems to be the exception, thus in our
treatment of the feed and care of the
dam 1t will be for those which rear
spring fOals unless otherwise men,
toned. Where fall foAls are reared It
lis very difficult to feed the mother SO
as to have a liberal supply of milk.
Another disadvantage in rearing fall
foals is the increased trouble during
the winter months, caused by teeth
ing
Where spring foals are to be reared
the mother should be literally fed
during the winter months. The ra-
ton should be of such nature as to
keep the system in a. good, cool, heal
thy condition. This calls for more
or less heterogeneous feed stuffs, such
as some bright, pure clover or alfalfa
hay for part of the roughage, and
oats and bran for the grain part of
the ration. A strictly corn or other
carbonaceous or heat producing diet
must be avoided. Where too much
corn is fed the mother usually be-
comes very feshy and plethoric. AS
result, at foaling time the mother
VIII be more or less troubled with in
f1ammation and the colt will be weak
and have little or no use of its limbs.
Feed OF succulent nature should
be supplied in some form. Where
roots can be had they rank first.
Corn silage when fed in limited uuan-
/ titles also gives good results, but It
must be fed with care else the same
difficulties will be experienced as
when too much corn is fed. Where
the foal is dropped before the grass
season has arrived. other feed stuffs
s. of a succulent nature must be pro-
yided. For roughage either alfalfa or
clover hay will answer q good purpose
as they are both conducive to milk
production. For concentrates, crushed
oats and bran are good. A mash of
some kind should be fed every even
Ing. This can be made by using bran
and crushed oats, equal parts by,
weight, and steaming for about half
an hour or an hour. In some in
stances skim milk has been added to
i the mash with good results. The
main object should be to supply an
abundance Of food adapted to milk
production. Great care must also be
exercised to feed the mother very reg
4 ularly and on the same. kind Of feed
3stuffs, 30 as to avoid any bowel.
trouble in the foal. &; d &
When the grass season arrives moth
ing is better than plenty Of good fresh
grass. It is anef of the very best aids
to healthy and abundant nutrition for
both mare and foal. ~
rs, When mares are worked while suck
Ing 1t is better that the foal should be-
left IN the stable and that the mare
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