The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-08
(Prepared i'm the Bureau Of Anima
Industry, L. S. Department Of
Agricultural

There is no single factor in agri-
cultural production on the average
farm that is of greater Importance
than good horse or mule power. This
power can usually be furnished more
cheaply by the production or needed
animals in that particular LOCALITY
than by purchasing them from re-
mote localities. In home production
there is also the added advantage Of
possessing animals which are thor
oughly acclimatized. Therefore if you
are the owner OF a good mare do not
to breed her either TO a good stallion
or a good jack.
If the mare is of the light type.
breed ner to a good stallion OF one
Of the light breeds: and if Of a draft
type. breed her to a draft stallion.
The progeny of a light mare bred to a
draft stallion or of a draft mare to a
light stallion is usually a nondescript
that is not fitted to any particular
field and will not command the price
Of either a high-class light or a high
class draft horse. BY the light type
is meant horses of the standardized,
Thoroughbred, American Saddle, and
similar breeds; by the draft type is
meant horses Of h Percheron, Bel
gian, Shire. Clydesdale, and similar
breeds. In breeding to a jack, mares
Of almost any kind may be used ii
sound, the best mules, as a rule, be-
ing produced from the mares with the
most weight and finish. The produc-
ton of inferior animals OF any kind
Is seldom profitable.
The destruction OF horses in the
countries now at war is enormous,
and when peac is declared and for
many years thereafter there will no
doubt be a great demand for horses
for agricultural and other work. The
farmer who has surplus horses at
that time will be in a position to OBJ
tain good prices. Keep your best
mares to work on the farm and raise
colts at the same time. You will thus
be in position not only to raise horses
for your work but also to take ad-
vantage Of the home and foreign
markets.
Care of The Brood Mare and FOal.
Many brood mares are OverwOrked,
while lar others are kept too closely
confined. The mare may be safely
worked to withih two weeks Of fOaling
if good care is used to see that she is
not overworked OF injured in some
other way. 1t Is not unusual for
mares which have been worked to
the a Of foaling to fOa success
fully. 1t Is safer. however. to dimin-
ish the work gradually SO hat during
the last few weeks only the lighteSt
kind Of work Is done.
If pasture is available, the mare
may be turned out about two weeks
before foaling. If pasture is not avail
roomy box stall. There need DE no
radical change in the feed, except
that the ration Of the mare should
be lightened shortly before ~foaling
and made more laxative. For this
purpose ar addition Of bran and a de-
crease of other grain feeds is vely
satisfactory.
When the mare is again put to work
the foal may either be left in the
stable or allowed to follow. II left IL
the stable, it will be necessary to re.
turn the mare in the middle Of the
forenoon and likewise in the after
noon for the colt to suck . Never al
low the foal to suck when the mar,
is very warm, for the milk at that tim
is quite apt to cause digestive diSOr
ders in the solt. The foal should b.
allowed access to the dams grain il
order that 1t may learn to eat as sool
as possible The foal may be weane,
at six months of age. and II it ha
previously been eating grain, no grea
setback will occur.
The can usually be bred wit
greater certainty Of success on tn
ninth day after foaling than at an
subsequent date.
Care OF The FOal After WEAVING.
AS exercise is OF prime importanc
for the proper development of youn
animals. the foal should have pastur
or a paddock in which to exercis,
Access to a barn OIL shed should b
provided as a protection again!
storms.
The feed OF the foal may be sim
lar to that which the mare was RI
ceiving before the foal was weane,
The weane foal should have two
three pounds OF grain per day ar
what hay 1T will eat. A grain mixtul
consisting OF two parts Of grour
oats, two parts OF corn meal, and OF
par of wheat bran, by weight, mi
be fed. II oats and bran are n
available a mixture consisting
seven parts corn meal and one pa
cottonseed meal may be substitute
All OF the leguminous hays, If Of
good quality, such as alfalfa, Glove
and cowpea hay, are good for Il
foal. AS the foal becomes older