114 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



cold and there is danger of her becoming chilled. If she is accustomed to a mash 

 of steamed feed such a feed of oats and bran may be fed an hour after foaling, 

 otherwise give her a small feed of her ordinary grain ration. Under favorable 

 conditions the mare in foal may be exercised after a few days and in 12 to 15 

 days she should be recovered from foaling and able to resume light work. 



Feed for the Brood Mare. Properly feeding the brood mare insures 

 success in developing a strong, well developed foal. During pregnancy she should 

 be fed sound, whole oats, pure wheat bran and mixed clover or timothy hay. A 

 few ears of corn with the oats and bran will keep her in good condition and give 

 strength to the foal. If the mare is idle, feed hay night and morning, and bright, 

 dry fodder or other good roughage at noon scattered in the field or paddock, when 

 weather permits her to be out. One feed of hay at night, one feed of corn stalks 

 and access to a rack of bright straw and a few ears of corn daily has been recom- 

 mended as a suitable ration for idle mares. Avoid moldy hay or silage, damaged 

 grain, fodder or rusted straw. Give plenty of pure, fresh water. Allow free 

 access to salt if mare has been accustomed to it, otherwise feed salt in limited 

 quantities until she has become satisfied and may have free access to it without 

 overeating. Do not allow the mare to become too fat, but keep her in fair flesh, 

 and do not let her condition indicate too scanty a ration. 



Oats and bran in equal bulk and %. in bulk of corn, makes a good ration for 

 a mare in milk. It is a good plan to moisten this before feeding if it is practic- 

 able. Clover or alfalfa hay and grass pasture in season, if mare can be turned out, 

 provide most suitable roughages for keeping up a good milk flow. The condition 

 of the mare, her milk flow and the condition of the colt, should govern the feeding, 

 and judgment must be exercised to the fullest extent possible. 



Care of Foal at Birth. The first and most important attention to give to 

 the foal is to see that the navel cord has been properly severed and disinfected. 

 Navel and joint disease, from which many colts die, gains entrance to the system 

 through the navel cord. Every precaution should be taken to prevent infection 

 from filth or germs of any kind. It is best for the cord to break off naturally in 

 which case it is unnecessary to tie it. If the cord has to be cut, disinfect a string in 

 five percent solution of lysol or carbolic acid, or a 1-500 solution of corrosive sub- 

 limate ( bichloride of mercury), tie it one inch from the body and cut it below 

 the knot. Castrating instruments, the emasculator or ecraseur, if at hand, may 

 be used to pinch the cord off and thus make it unnecessary to tie the cord. 



Whether the cord is tied or not it should be saturated with a disinfectant 

 twice a day until it shrivels up and no raw spot remains. Do not saturate the 

 body of the foal. Fresh lard or vaseline smeared on the foal's belly will prevent 

 the disinfectant blistering it. 



Solution for Saturating Foal's Navel. The following disinfectant has 

 been recommended by Dr. A. S. Alexander, of the Wisconsin College of Agricul- 

 ture, and used effectively : 



Powdered corrosive sublimate, 2 drams; boiling water 1 pint. When cool, 

 color the solution with 2 drams of tincture of iron. The solution is poison and 

 should be so marked and kept away from the reach of children. 



