The Republican journal., 1913-05-22
PASSING DRAFT HORSES.

kuSSCn, ioASSSoi VI SSsSiIuoly
..s College of Agriculture, UNIVERSE
Of Maine.
g. ,ite evident that we ought to be
o.r own draft horses in the State
...o. They are osting US aItogeth-
m much, and we are suffering for
r,ore horses. Some farmers who
.sqy good draft mares hesitate to
,a4n because they cannot under
4 hon they can spare the mares,
ar. qeeied so constantly to do the
If de farm. However, it is quite
b.. 10 raise colts without seriously
= r,ng with the use of the mare in
IN, work on the farm. To do this
ssfu}ly so that the colt shall not be
+s5 Of the mare overworked requires
ia. If Judgment in breeding at the
. +,q,p so that the colts will be foaled
s..s5n of the year when the mare
~ shared for a few days.
-5rher Of things have to be taken
oorsi ieration. 1t is desirable to
,te mare two weeks rest after she
The asst month or two before she
sbs Is heavy and awkward and not
:. hest condition for the hardest kind
ark. As a general thing the mare
he bred most successfully when she
..irly good flesh and is not worn out
oysrwork. If we were only to con-
ne mare and her relations to the
otrhe farm it might be best to breed
n tosl in January or February, but
4 farm teams are kept busy when
Is any shedding in the winter and
say If is difficult in this climate in
I-,j If winter to give young colt
exercise that he needs without dam
NJ Ir1lly exposing him.
o-r colt is eating so that he will
. sss than three pounds a day Oh
r-r4ge turing the time he is sucking
ss box stall or even a small
-.r-5 ard does not furnish room
e- for him to take the exercise
r. o harden his rapidly growing
-as ard to develop his heart and
s. Ifte makes good growth he is
gt51a weak and soft; if he does not
zoy growth while re is with the
st,7l. always be understood.
--r erlitions are such that only
gs is required of the brood mare
tt. a-st to the middle of May. then
eliza line to have the foal appear.
oae weather, young grass, and
s---ata Of flies furnish the most
rs onditions; but because of the
ct. sol high price of horses and the
# season for seeding, cultivating, and
ssuI crops every available draft
m,ar To be at work at this season
-,-- lecation of a week is eXpen-
Ma 5 often the most inconveni-
ro.r If the year for draft mares to
Work is sure to be crowding and
be- l.rses must work to the limit or
Hi-a seasons operations of the
.s- ..fected. When all conditions
rt nto consideration, sometime
--a la- middle of March and the
April seems to be the most
r.. for the draft mare to foal. A
tr8r foals the last of March can
9o weeks rest, and two weeks
i5nt work before the busiest
o1 cnles on. By the first of May
.4r Is old enough so that he does not
II s--ously if kept away from his
f DAY at time while she is at
Is r-ry little use to attempt to raise
tl7Iess we are prepared to follow
St that will enable US to raise a good
in- quality of the colt should be
first consideration when the draft
els bred.
, ne present time the profit from
Ing good draft horses is large enough
bat may pay to devote the mare to
puuese without much regard to the
k sat might do. But if she can raise
colt md do her regular work the cost
aslg the colt will be corresponding
.eiuct By breeding the mare to
in NJ rch or April this can be ac-
Fisdeo Until we have more than
m=s d! many big draft colts on our
NJ FARMS as we have at present we
be i- no danger of oversupplying
-ma1d and every branch of the
0a- n -ustry will be strengthened in
j-loH to the number of the right
otcors that are available for farm
l ST We may say breed young draft
s5 as soon as possible and when the
4pp-ar take the best Of care of
word j caution should go in here.
81, Of he horse breeding States have
'er out the unsound, poorly bred,
eszeq stations from their States by
uor license laws. Unfortunately we
f. Do such law and many of their re-
'- :.aIlons have already found their
Hsre. As our State has taken no
slres u guarantee the quality of the
rl6g Of stations, each breeder must
1oui for his own interests. Be sure
stallion you use is sound, sure
'vl5r and If at east standard size for
breed YOU select. You can much
VIZ afford to drive your mare 20 miles
more AM pay good service fee for the
'N a first class stallion than to take
git Of the service of an inferior
H0y horse. Scarce as horses are
n. Is stll. a high premium on quality
pays to raise the best. Make all
1Alons as favorable as possible and
easing Of gooc draft colts is safe,
4'ahle business.