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VlVfsJOy OF AyiMAL IWsnAXDRY <G1 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Tlie imported mares are of particularly hiirli order both as to size, substance, 

 quality, and breeding. These mares are the pick of two of the larjrest importations 

 of I'Jlo and contain the choicest blood of the breed. It is hoped that in the course 

 of another year, when breeding operations start on a larger scale, that these mares 

 will be heard from as to the quality of their progeny. 



During the past year, two Canadian-bred registered mares gave birth to foals. 

 The lirst mare to foal had been in the stables of the Central Experimental Farm for 

 a year, and gave birth to a splendid stallion foal. The second mare, also a Canadian- 

 bred registered Clj^desdale mare, was purchased three months previous to foaling. 

 This mare had been heavily fed and mider-exercised during the winter of 1912-13 and 

 in consequence was overloaded with fat and produced a weak foal which died within 

 twenty-four hours. This is a condition which is altogether too common throughout 

 the farms of Eastern Canada, and a phase of experimental work which will be dealt 

 with both on the Central Experimental Farm and branch Farms and Stations during 

 the coming years. 



HORSE STABLES. 



The horse stable, constructed in the year 1907. is unaltered since its erection. In 

 view of the fact that there is an increasingly large number of inquiries regarding 

 stable construction, concrete floors and stands, and particularly of ventilation, refer- 

 ence is again made to detailed plans and brief specifications as to this horse barn in 

 the reports for the years 1908 and 1910. In addition to this, readers are referred to 

 n bulletin on farm building ventilation now in the hands of the printers, in Avhicli is 

 given details as to the proper method of ventilating the horse barn for all parts of 

 Canada wliere atmospheric conditions are somewhat similar to those at Ottawa. Based 

 on the results at tlie Central Experimental Farm, considerable experimental work is 

 being conducted, in the construction of horse barns, on the branch Farms. As to 

 best methods of flooring, lighting, construction of box stalls, and the like, readers of 

 this report are referred to the reports of the Superintendents of the Experimental 

 Stations at Cap Eouge and Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que. 



FEEDING THE WORK HORSES. 



The feeding of the work horses is conducted along the same lines as in former 

 years. However, owing to a large number of inquiries, these methods will bear repeti- 

 tion. 



The stableman feeds all horses, and. under his supervision, each teamster is 

 responsible for the washing and cleaning of his horses and liarness. 



The feeds used are mixed hay, fed long, oats and bran, generally in the proportion 

 of five parts oats to two parts bran, mixed and fed dry. Warm bran mashes, 5 or 

 pounds per horse, are used on Saturday nights to replace the regular grain ration. 

 When horses are on very heavy work, the proportion of bran is decreased to one part 

 for five parts oats. Tliese ratios between bran and oats were decided best after much 

 experimental work. Readers interested are referred to the annual rei>«rts of the 

 Dominion Agriculturist, years 1904 and 1905. 



A safe standard for feeding draught horses, and one commonly used here, is that 

 of giving from 1 to 1\ pounds of the above grain mixture and 1 pound of hay for 

 each 100 pounds live weight; this, of course, subject to variation depending on the 

 severity of work, condition of animal when fed, the health of animal, and other minor 

 considerations. 



The morning feed, about 5 a.m., consists of about three-eighths of the total grain 

 mixture and one-quarter of the hay for that day. The noon ration is the same. The 



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