The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-10-27
Unnecessary for State to Send
Away Large Sums for This
Product Annually.
Big DRAIN ON RESOURCES
Money Now Spent For Mules Would
=; Purehsse Good Drast Mares From
p, Which to obtain Mules-Points on
T. Care of Marc and CoIt---Homs
Raised MuIes az Good as Any

The tremendous outlay Tor mube
power ON the farm can be eliminated
to large extent In. South Carolina.
Already q considerable number Of far
merS In the state are raising: their
mules at home and n this policy is
adopted BY. all the states farmers, the
large annual drain on the states re.
sources for this product will be
stopped
Invested IN brood mares, the
amount usually spent. for mules. would
purchase large, well.bred draft mares
OF the right, type for producing mules.
The cost OF raising mule colts on the
farm to an age at which they can be
put TO work IS about 500 each, when
even every item In the process 10
charged against him. This amount
sounds large. bus the fact is' that most
Of 4 10 charged aSainst things chat
are not missed on the average aarm,
since tho colt can, Be developed large
~ ON pastures. end products, of, the.
farm chat would probably not be mar
keted IN any other way.
Mares selected for mule raising
should be OF draft type, with quality,
and should weigh about 1,400 pounds,
though smaller mares are used with
good results for producing mules Of
light weight. If mares are bred to
foal In fell, when work on the farm. is
usually lighter and fall pastures are
good, they need lose very. little time
during the year from their work In
tho ffeld Light work is beneficial to
brood Mare even up to tho time of
toallng. and the resultant colt il
stronger end more thrifty because OF
1t. provided the mare has been proper.
ly nOuYished with succulent, feed for q
few weeks before foaiing.
The average period Of CESSATION, or
time between service and foaltng, is
about $40 days or II months, although
this varies somewhat IN both direc-
tions %. With this information, q farm
er can have his mare toal at about the
proper time. .''.-' ..
The pregnant mares grain ration
should be proportioned to the amount
OF work she does. About three weeks
before foaling. wheat bran should be
added to her feed. the proportion OF
this being gradually increased and
other grain proportions decreased as
foaling time approaches. Her food
should. be altogether free OF moldy
grain Or woody fodder or straw.
|: An essential point Is to give tho
mare In foal large. roomy box stall:
After foalfng, mares should rest fov
about two weeks before being put back
at work.
GIVE tho mare and her colt as much
pasturage as possible. with the addi-
tion Of bran and grain while the colt
IL young, Care and attention are ca.
seDttal to mature the colt to proper
size and grain should be given to Il
regularly with its pasturage or clean
hay. .t
Do not let q colt follow its mother on
the road or IN the field. Do not let
colt suck while the mare ia overheat,
ed. Always let the mare cool of first.
That mules can be raised profit.
ably In South Carolina has been dem.
onstrated by several farmers In the
state, who save the expenditure usual.
ly made for mule power and claim for
the homecaised mule many advan-
tages over it's imported competitor.
Write to Sidney 8. Rittenberg, Glenn.
son College, for an ftemized statement
OF comparison Of mare and mule.
JOHN O. WILLIAMS,
Livestock Demonstration Agent,
Clemson Agricultural College.