BREEDING 195 



If the mare should jump up immediately after foaling , 

 and so break the navel-string before it has been tied, just 

 slit the latter and twist it, which will at once stop the 

 bleeding, and then proceed to apply a ligature in the 

 usual manner. 



After the string has been tied the foal should be drawn 

 up to the mare's head, that she may smell and lick it ; 

 and then a little oatmeal gruel may be offered to her — as 

 she lies, if she has not risen. In half an hour's time a 

 warm mash should be given to her, and while she is eating 

 it the foal should be taught to suck by holding its head 

 to the teats, and placing one in its mouth. If it does 

 not readily attempt to suck, it may be induced to do so 

 by drawing off a few drops of milk from the mare, and 

 rubbing the teat with it just as it is being put into the foal's 

 mouth. If it still makes no attempt to suck, the middle 

 finger, after it has been dipped into the milk, should be 

 introduced into the foal's mouth, when it will at once 

 suck it, and thus acquiring the taste of the milk it is 

 almost certain to make use of the teat if placed at once 

 again to its lips. 



New cow's milk may be given at first, if the dam 

 yields too little milk, but should soon be replaced with 

 skim milk, which possesses a large proportion of casein, 

 or flesh-forming food, and phosphate of lime, and so is 

 exactly adapted to the growth of muscle and bone. Cow's 

 milk is richer both in casein and butter fat than that of the 

 mare, though it is deficient in sugar. If new milk is 

 continued in use it should have one-third of water added 

 to it, but skim milk is preferable. 



The first milk of the mare contains a substance, colustrum, 

 which is of especial service in assisting the foal to pass 

 the foecal matter, the myconium, with which it is 

 burdened at birth. The mare should never be milked 

 therefore, except to get the few drops necessary to induce 

 the foal to take to the teat, until the foal has sucked. The 

 myconium should pass away naturally in the first twelve 

 to twenty-four hours after birth, and if this has not taken 

 place within that period treatment should at once be 



