The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29
BY DIR. .. G. FERNEYHouGH,
state Veterinarian.

While the most fertile period OF the
brood mares life Is usually from five
to fifteen years of age. yet with good
care this animal often produces sev-
eral colts after she has passed the age
of fifteen Again, many farmers breed
their mares much younger than five
years, too but this practice is not as
a rule the best plan of procedure in
the opinion of the writer It is very
good rule to always try the mare as
to her ability as an individual before
breeding her. That is to say. II she
is naturally bred for speed, then try
her for one season on the track: II not
for two or three SEASONS. before you
undertake. to breed speedy animals
Xrom her. The same may we'll be APP
piled to work on the farm. etc. How
ever, do not allow the mare to pass
her prime of life before breeding her
lif you wish to have her produce the
best colts OF her kind. In fact It Is
the happy medium" rather than the
extreme. that we must seek for in most
any Investigations will NOT do 10
mare has made a record. that record
Is worth Il great deal TO the colt. IN
many cases the records of the dams is
what sells :ne colts at the ages of one
and two years. Though. If the mare
is left to work or the track or else
older, she will not as a rule be- the
brood mare that she would have been
had she been bred at the age of five or
Six years
In order to get the best results a
mare which is being used as a brood
mare should be we'll fed and regularly
exercised daily. Work does the said
animal good. But. of course, good
Judgment must be used as to how much
@f he. urn RI at cor
tain periods. The mare should never
be put to work that will actually strain
her. but moderate ana constant work
Is of the greatest benefit to the animal
up to the very time of giving birth
to her foal.
Feed shelter and good general at
tenton is what so many good mares
suffer for, ard that is what they all
should certainly receive. as every good
brood mare will pay for herself time
over and again If her owner will only,
see that she receives the proper at
| tention.
II the mare is worked regularly on
! the farm, If a draft mare. then there
lis never any danger of over-feedinS
| her, and you will show good judgment
when you give her all of the good food
that she will cat The lighter horses
should likewise be daily exercised and
then given a plenty to eat. But 10
feed literally and give the animal lit
| tie or no exercise is very injuries in
| deed to the brood mare. In fact, lack
Of exercise and feeding Is bad pol
Icy, near us bad as starving the animal.
When the period is near at hand for
the mare to foal, then she should be
placed In O. lot to herself during the
day, though have the usa Of a good
shed If the weather should at any time
Il
sons the hrood-m should have a
good, roony box-stall at night, we'll
bedded with straw, and the walls should
be so arranged as to leave no place
for the mare to In any way get her
feet caught In the sides of the stall.
This is an all-lmportant detail to look
after. as the mare, or foal either. may
suffer considerable Injury from becom-
ing entan3led In places from which
planks have been knocked off, etc. If
the dates of the exact time of breeding
has been properly recorded every man
who owns broodmare can have a
Very clear idea as when to expect the
feal and this being the case. the mare
can and should be looked after daily,
then lie any accident occurs tho attend
ant can often relieve the difficulty. and
If everything Is normal there Is no
time lost. or harm done. by being care
| II possible, prevent complications. On
the other hand, as long as everything
Is natural. use good common sense and
let nature take is course. The very
young foal, IL unable to stand, may
be assisted to its feet, and it's legs
carefully rubbed With the hand or a
soft rag, when it will often then with
out further assistance learn to eat, or
take It's mothers milk and he Of no
more trouble, Again, we sometimes
find 1t absolutely necessary to hold
the little foal to Its mother and teach
| 1t to drink the milk for the first two
or three times. In other cases the
mothers will not pay much attention
| to the foals and we have to hold, or
tic, the mare until the foal has gotten
the first milk. While the above mem
| toned facts are simple, In FACT very
simple, and for that very reason many
stock ownars neglect their mares and
foals until 1t is too late, Thus, mem
tion the little things which are apt to
be overlooked, yet they cost us SO
much when we fail to appreciate their
value in time.
Never allow the mare with foal
1by her side to have TO depend entire