416 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, INDIAN HEAD, SASK. 



EEPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, T. J. HARRISON, B.S.A. 



HORSES. 



On the Indian Head Experimental Farm there are at present fourteen horses, 

 viz., three Clydesdale mares, five grade mares, four geldings and two drivers. Among 

 these there are some fine draught horses, but there are also three or four that are past 

 the age of usefulness. This also applies to the two drivers, which are hardly ever 

 used for driving purposes, but are very useful for doing the light farm work. Of the 

 above horses, two grade mares were bought last April to supplement the stock of 

 horses, as there was too much work for the number on hand. 



During past years horses were kept on this Farm for labour purposes only, but 

 in the future the breeding of draught horses is also to be carried on. Two mares are now 

 in foal and in due course it is hoped to be able to secure data on the costs of rearing 

 colts, yearlings, 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds. With the purchase of two or three pure- 

 bred Clydesdale mares it should be possible to procure some valuable information 

 in regard to breeding Clydesdales. The breeding of grade draught horses is also to 

 be carried on, the purpose of which is to primarily supply work horses for the Farm. 

 By the use of the pure-bred Clydesdale, the improvement that can be brought about by 

 pure-bred top crosses from a good quality Clydesdale stallion will be noted. 



HORSE FEEDING EXPERIMENTS. 



"With a view to investigating the most economic means of handling and feeding 

 the draught horse in winter an experiment was started last season and will be con- 

 tinued again this winter. The following table will indicate the outline that was 

 followed. It will be noted that horses handled similarly were fed differently, while 

 those fed similarly were handled differently. 



The hordes bracketed under " light work " were worked together, while those 

 bracketed under " stabled and exercised " were handled together in respective two- 

 horse teams. Tliose under " light w'ork "' were w'orked every second day by the teamster, 

 while the "stabled and exercised" lot were exercised every second day by the stableman. 

 In this way it wa* possible to work one team of the four each day and exercise one 

 team of the other four. The four horses " let out each day " were, with the exception 

 of two or three very stormy days, turned out in a field every morning where they were 

 allowed to remain most of the day. 



