420 



EXPEIilMEXTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LACOMBE, ALTA. 



EEPORT OF THE SUPEEINTENDENT, G. H. HUTTON, B.S.A. 



HORSES. 



The Station now owns twenty head of horses. There are thirteen pure-bred Per- 

 cheron, Clydesdale, and grade mares. We were successful in raising three foals. Nine 

 of the mares were bred for foaling during the spring and early summer of 1913. Of 

 this number five foaled prematurely, three being, Avithout doubt, cases of abortion and 

 in the other two cases this disease was the probable cause. The mares were wintered 

 outside day and night, had access to a str»aw stack, were watered at a small lake and 

 were not fed hay or grain. A number were brought up for spring work, were then fed 

 hay and grain, while the others were left out and were fed a light grain ration. Of the six 

 in-foal mares which were worked, only one raised a foal, which was malformed, while 

 all three mares left out raised good colts. It is planned to repeat this test next spring, 

 though all mares are bred to foal comparatively late. 



All horses, wintered outside in the manner above described, came through the 

 winter in prime condition and, without exception, showed increase in weight. This 

 method of wintering horses is very inexpensive, costing probably about $1 per month 

 per head. When straw, which would otherwise be burned, can be put to this use, .the 

 cost of wintering horses is practically negligible. 



Three foals were carried from Xovember 1, to March 31, at a feed cost as follows: — 



Hay 



(iieen feed. 



Oats . . 



Bran 



Pounds. 



2.718 

 '2,?A0 

 1,530 

 1,000 



Total. 



Value per 

 Ton. 



10 



10 

 20 

 20 



Cost. 



.§ cts. 



13 59 



11 70 



15 30 



10 00 



50 59 



Combined 



Weight at 6 



Months. 



Lb. 



2,1G0 



1 



