324 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



it is more watery than average cow's milk, and while it contains more 

 sugar, it is decidedly poorer in casein, albumin, and ash. (115) 



In certain districts of Europe and Asia mares are used to some extent 

 for milk production. According to Fleishmann, 9 Tartarian mares some- 

 times remain in milk for 2 years, producing 440 to 490 Ibs. of milk 

 annually beyond the requirements of their foals. Vieth 10 reports that 

 good Russian milking mares, when milked 5 times a day, as is the 

 practice, yield 4 to 5 quarts of milk daily. 



The foal may be taught to drink cow's milk by pouring it upon meal. 

 The young thing readily eats the moistened feed, and by tipping the pan 

 it soon learns to drink the milk. At the Iowa Station 11 Wilson and 

 Curtiss successfully fed whole milk, and later separator skim milk to 

 imported Percheron, Shire, and French-Coach weanling fillies shortly 

 after their arrival from abroad and while out of condition. In chang- 

 ing from whole to separator skim milk the amount was reduced for a 

 day or two to prevent scouring. Ten Ibs. of separator skim milk was 

 found equal to 1 Ib. of grain. 



521. Raising the orphan. If the mare dies or has no milk the foal 

 may, with proper care, be raised on cow's milk. (265-6) Choose the milk 

 from a fresh cow, if possible, and preferably from one giving milk low 

 in fat. To a tablespoonful of sugar add warm water to dissolve, then 3 

 to 5 tablespoonfuls of lime water, which tends to correct digestive 

 troubles, and enough fresh milk to make a pint. Feed about one-fourth 

 pint every hour for the first few days, always warming to blood heat. 

 A satisfactory method of feeding the foal is to use an ordinary nursing 

 bottle with a large nipple. Whatever utensil is used, it should be 

 thoroly cleansed and scalded before each meal. Such feeding means 

 much bother, but many foals have been killed by neglect of these im- 

 portant details. As the foal grows, the amount of milk may be gradually 

 increased, the period between feedings lengthened, and whole milk sub- 

 stituted. After a few days 6 feedings a day will suffice and later only 4. 

 At 3 to 4 weeks of age the use of sugar may be stopped, but it is well to 

 continue the lime water. In 5 or 6 weeks sweet skim milk may be gradual- 

 ly substituted for whole milk, and after 3 months the colt may be given 

 all it will drink 3 times a day. If allowed to suck the attendant 's fingers 

 the foal will soon learn to drink from a pail. The bowels should move 

 freely, but if scours occur at any time Alexander 12 advises giving 2 to 4 

 tablespoonfuls of a mixture of sweet oil and pure castor oil shaken up 

 in milk, and stopping the feeding of milk for 2 or 3 meals, allowing in- 

 stead only sweetened warm water with lime water added. At the earliest 

 possible age the foal should be fed solid food, such as oat meal, crushed 

 oats, corn, bran, and a little oil meal and legume hay. For exercise let 

 the orphan run in a lot or grass paddock. 



522. Weaning. At from 4 to 6 months of age, depending on conditions, 

 the foal should be weaned. When the mare is bred soon after foaling, or 



9 Lehrb. Milchwirtschaft, 1901, p. 65. "Iowa Bui. 18. 

 10 Landw. Vers. Stat, 31, 1885, p. 354. 12 Wis. Cir. 13. 



