514 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ing increase in lajid makes intensive farming imperative and we 

 become^more thorough in our cultivation methods. The high, 

 price of farm labor is another item, and to overcome this factor 

 we employ less men and more horse power. It is an economical 

 fact that we must develop the foal. During the first year the 

 colt makes a pound of growth with less feed than at any subse- 

 quent time. On the other hand, the colt cannot handle a large 

 bulk of feed in its small body. Therefore the folly of with- 

 holding grain from the foal either before or after weaning is 

 apparent. We not only get economical growth, but by early 

 development we get early maturity — larger and better horses. 



Imported Percheron stallion. Honorable (51635) 41371, at the head of the stud of Per- 

 cheron mares owned by the department of animal husbandry. College of Agriculture, Uni- 

 versity of Missouri. 



If we are to produce horses of size, quality and conforma- 

 tion we cannot hope to succeed unless we use great care in breed- 

 ing, selection, feeding and general practices. From the sixth 

 week after the mare is in foal there is an ever increasing demand 

 for bone-forming material, and is especially urgent during the 

 first three or even five months after birth. 



It is essential that the breeder should so regulate the food 

 of his brood mare that an abundant supply of mineral matter 



