Part III. 

 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER XVn. 



INYESTIGATIONS CONCERNING THE HOBSB. 



I. Mare and Foal. 



425. Period of gestation. — According to Youatt, ^ the average 

 period of gestation for the mare is eleven months, but it may be 

 diminished five weeks or extended six weeks. Of 582 mares re- 

 ported by M. Tessier, the shortest period was 287 days, the longest 

 419, and the average 330 days, ^ 



426. Weight and growth of foals. — Boussingault * found that: 

 ''1. Foals, the issue of mares weighing from 960 to 1,100 



pounds, weigh at birth about 112 pounds. 



"2. During suckling, for three months the weight increases in 

 the relation of 278: 100, and the increase corresponds very nearly 

 to 2.2 pounds per head per day. 



''3. The increase in weight per day of foals from the end of 

 the first to the end of the second year is about 1.3 pounds, and 

 towards the third year the increase per day falls to something 

 under one pound. 



"4. After three full years, the period at which the horse has 

 very nearly attained his growth and development, any increase 

 becomes less and less perceptible." 



» The Horse, p. 222. 



^ Farmers' Cyclopedia, Johnson, p. 562. 



3 Rural Economy, Am. ed., p. 464. 



