244 LIVE STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



A half pint is sufficient at first, but it should be fed at least 

 six times per day. Gradually increase the amount as the colt 

 grows older. Some oats and grass should also be given. 

 When the colt is about two months old, skim milk should be 

 substituted for the fresh milk. Some oil meal or flaxseed 

 meal to the amount of about one pint per day should be fed 

 in conjunction to prevent constipation. It will also be very 

 helpful in developing the frame of the colt. Either whole 

 or skim milk can be profitably fed to any colt which is thin 

 in flesh, as such an animal will not otherwise do well during 

 the first winter. 



It is always advisable to teach the colt to eat grain 

 before weaning. This will make the weaning period a much 

 less severe one on the colt. The best age to wean the colt 

 is at about five or six months, depending on the condition 

 of the dam and the colt. Generally speaking, a colt should 

 never be allowed to suckle longer than six months. In fact, 

 five months seems to be sufficient. 



There are various methods of weaning the colt. One 

 very commonly practiced and one which gives good results 

 is to tie the colt in an adjoining stall from the dam with 

 the partition low or so open that they can see each other, 

 thus preventing unnecessary fretting and worrying on the 

 part of both animals. The ration of the mare should be 

 reduced and of such a nature as to be non-productive of 

 milk. A pound of Epsom salts fed in the grain will have 

 a beneficial effect upon the system. When the mare's udder 

 becomes so full as to cause her uneasiness, a part of the 

 milk should be drawn off, but she should not be milked dry. 

 This should be done by hand, as such milk is not good for 

 the colt. It will also be found much easier to dry off the 

 mare when the colt is not allowed to suckle. After weaning, 

 the mare and the colt should be kept apart. The colt may 

 be fed skim milk after weaning to good advantage. Care 

 must be taken, however, where the colt is fed by hand, to 

 avoid the common practice of making too much of a pet of 

 the colt and by so doing spoil it in after years. 



