320 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



not stand in the stall without exercise. A roomy, well-lighted, well- 

 ventilated box stall with wide doorway and ample bedding are none too 

 good at such times. Mares heavy in foal are apt to be cross and quarrel- 

 some, but they should always be handled gently. 



The feeding of the working brood mare is easier than that of the idle 

 one. The chief essential is a well-balanced ration of good feeds, con- 

 taining plenty of protein, lime, and phosphorus. An abundance of these 

 is especially needed by immature pregnant mares and pregnant mares 

 which are suckling foals, since in addition to the demand from the de- 

 veloping fetus there is the draft for the growing body of the mother in 

 the one case, and for milk secretion in the other. (113, 121, 147) All feeds 

 should be free from dust, mold, or decay, which might cause abortion. 

 Mares used only for breeding purposes do well without grain when on 

 nutritious pasture. "With insufficient pasture and in winter some grain 

 should be given. The feed should not be too concentrated, but should 

 have considerable bulk or volume. The bowels must be kept active thru 

 the proper use of such feeds as bran, linseed meal, roots, etc. 



515. Gestation period and foaling time. The average period of gesta- 

 tion for the mare is about 11 months, or 340 days, tho it may vary quite 

 widely. William Russell Allen of Allen Farm, 3 Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 

 from records of 1,071 foals produced by trotting mares during 15 years, 

 found the maximum gestation period 373, the minimum 319, and the 

 average 340 days. A wider range was observed by Tessier, 4 who reports 

 that the shortest gestation period of 582 mares was 287, the longest 419, 

 and the average, 330 days. 



Only the quick-maturing draft filly should under any circumstances be 

 bred as a 2-year-old; all others when past 3 years. If the desire is to 

 improve the strain of horses, one should not attempt to breed even the 

 draft filly at 2 years of age, but when market draft horses are wanted it 

 may prove economical and will not injure the filly to any noticeable de- 

 gree if she is well-grown for her age and is properly fed and cared for. 



Shortly before foaling the grain allowance should be decreased and 

 laxative food more freely used, since it is advisable to keep the bowels 

 rather loose, When wax forms on the mare's teats, or dugs, the foal 

 may be expected in 3 to 4 days. To avoid infection which may cause 

 navel and joint disease, the stall should be thoroly disinfected before 

 the foal is born. Alexander 5 advises removing all litter, scraping the 

 floor, and scrubbing it and the walls with a good disinfectant. The 

 ceiling should be cleaned, and freshly made whitewash, to each gallon 

 of which has been added one-third pound of chlorid of lime, applied 

 to both walls and ceiling. The floor should be covered with fresh, clean 

 straw, as free as possible from chaff and dust, and all manure removed 

 as soon as dropped. 



As foaling time approaches, the mare should be watched so as to render 

 assistance, if necessary, yet she must not know that anyone is on guard, 



Catalog, 1905. 4 Farmers ' Cyc., Johnson, p. 562. 8 Wis. Cir. 13. 



