The Ozark spectator., 1916-06-09

sor of Animal Husbandry, Uni
 versity of Arkansas.
 The breeding of horses and mules is generally considered as a side issue in general farm practice, more so than in breeding any other class of stock The majority of farmers raise only a few colts each year, the number de pending somewhat on the number of animals used and the nature of the work required of the mares at foaling time. Even though we are living in what might be termed the motor age, there is still great demand for good farm and heavy draft horses. which should be an incentive for the farmer to breed more and better horses. The mule is especially adapted to South ern conditions. having a greater re- sistance to heat. and they are hardier, more docile and sure-footed than the horse
 In selecting breeding animals the average breeder generally selects his brood mares from his best farm work mares. TAs brood mare should havs . rsAnsd and mstroaly appseTaAeA and still have suAesent capacity ios the fsstus as shown by lAs0s. lssS. ribbed body. Since most of the mares ere grades, the relative influence e1 sire and dam h apparently in Avss or the sire.
 The grads sire ny possibly have . good appearance, but. coming fSen mixed breeding of uakaown ancestry. 1t is hard ts dstsrn4as what his ssNs win resemble. The pure bred w1u improve his offspring as the tendency is to produce animals like the sire.
 The sharactsristtes of the nuis mare should hs emphasized. since the mule inhsrits much of its form iron tho mare She should have siss. weight and good conformation. Be cause of the generally recognized comparatively coarse qualities of the jack, mule mares should have refine ment and quality. Heavy draft mares are not as desirable as those which have some hot blood from the lighter breeds, such as standard bred or thor oughbred. Too much refinement will produce undersized mules. which are not as salable for remunerativs prices. The body of the jack has a tendency to angularity, and therefore he should be mated to mares of a square, smooth form to overcome this tendency.
 J,, tA nOIfa fhA farmer must either breed his working mares or work his brood mares. The question which confronts the farmsr Is how to secure natural conditions for his mares while at work. The mare at work Is just as we'll off for fresh air, sunshine and exercise as the mare in the pasture. but the labor requires more energy and tissus-building mate rial in addition to that for body up keep and development of the foetus. Furthermore, she Is subject to fatigue and mechanical injuries. such as jerk. ing. slipping. extreme speed and rough treatment. The best way Is to grad. ually decrease the work % that dur ing the last few weeks of pregnancy the mare will be doing the nghteSt work. The majority Of the foals are foaled in the spring. which is the natural time. However, if mares are expected to do the seasons heavy work in addition to raising a eek. the fall will bs a better time.
 A few days before foahag the grain ration should bs decrsassd and bran or linseed neal should bs fed to act as layakivs and keep the bowels loose At this time. After foalinS. tho first feed may be bran. and this may be followed with oats or equal parts by bulk of corn and bran. fsediAg . light feed for the first ten days.
 There gre two active causes of death in young fosls. One is due te inpaction in the bowels because of failure to receive sufficient colostrxE. or first milk, and if this be the case. the colt should be given . tablespoon full of castor oil and a warm water injection. The other cause is due ts navel infection before the navel heals over. Give plenty of clean. dry bod ding and dip the stump of the navel cord In saturated solution of boric acid, which will prevent infection.
 The feeding of the colt should be- gin as early as possible. as the foal makes more than half of its entire growth during the first year. For bone and muscle forming feeds. blue grass pasture and oats has no supe- rior. Corn. barley, kafir. etc, may be fed If properly balanced with legume hays. which have lime fer bone growth.
 While the mare is at work the foal should be locked up in a good box stall or yard, where 1t cannot hurt it. self While the foal is real young, the mare should be brought in in the middle of the forenoon and afternoon to allow the foal to suck. If the mare is warm and fretting, milk out part of the milk, as it will injure the foal.