646 Reading-Course for Farmers. 



oats, four parts wheat bran or its equivalent, and one part linseed meal, 

 with bright clover or alfalfa hay for roughage. 



Pregnant animals have a tendency to fatten as pregnancy advances. 

 This must be guarded against in the mare, as she may become so fat 

 as to interfere with the development of the foal, cause abortion or other 

 troubles at parturition, such as milk fever and the like. The ration of 

 the mare should be reduced just before and for a short time after foal- 

 ing and made more laxative by the addition of a succulent food, as 

 carrots or an occasional bran mash. This should be continued until 

 both mare and foal have recovered from the ordeal incident to birth. 



Parturition time 



The average period of gestation in the mare is popularly placed at 

 eleven months, more accurately perhaps three hundred and forty day3, 

 but it may vary greatly either way. Because of the uncertainty of the 

 period, the mare should be closely watched from the tenth month till 

 parturition. There are certain signs of the near approach of parturition 

 that rarely fail. The udder often becomes greatly distended some time 

 before foaling, but the teats seldom fill out full and plump to the end 

 more than two or three days before the foal is born. About one week 

 or ten days before foaling, there is a marked shrinking or falling away 

 of the muscular parts at the top of the buttocks back of the hips. An- 

 other sign is the appearance of the wax on the ends of the teats. This 

 generally appears not earlier than three days before the foal comes. 

 In some cases, however, the foal may be born without any of 

 these signs. 



From about the three hundred and thirtieth day, or when the miare 

 begins to show signs, the work should be much lightened and the grain 

 ration reduced, though for best results the mare should be kept at light 

 work up to the day of foaling. Bran mash will prove very beneficial 

 now, as it will keep the bowels in good condition and allay any tendency 

 to feverishness. She should have a roomy, well-lighted and ventilated 

 box stall, thoroughly clean and freshly bedded. 



If birth is easy and normal, let both mare and foal alone. They will 

 come through the ordeal all right. It may be necessary that a care- 

 taker be near by at night to render assistance if need be, but the mare 

 must not know of his presence. Most mares will not give birth to their 

 young in the presence of persons if they can help it. 



If the mare shows after a reasonable time — and do not wait too long 

 for her strength rapidly fails — that she cannot deliver the foal, or if 

 examination discloses that there is an abnormal presentation (normally 



