HORSE PRODUCTION 119 



or more mares in a season. The results, however, do injustice to the stallion, 

 his foals, his owner and the owners of mares. 



Feeding the Stallion. The greater number of stallions are likely to be 

 overfed at the beginning of the breeding season and poorly fed during their 

 idle season. Pampering the stallion with drugs, stock foods, tonics and un- 

 healthful feeds to fatten and stimulate him is unnecessary and produces unsatis- 

 factory results. Feeding must be a matter of intelligent judgment. It is safe to 

 depend upon bright, clean oats and hay and a bran mash once or twice a week as 

 the condition may seem to warrant. A liberal quantity of oats and bran, two 

 parts of oats and one of bran fed twice a day, and once daily through the breed- 

 ing season, giving a feed of boiled barley with a little flaxseed cooked with it 

 and fed hot at night, is recommended. Fresh grass is always relished and keeps 

 the bowels in good condition. 



Authorities, differ on the matter of feeding corn. Some advocate a few ears 

 occasionally, others avoid feeding it. This is evidence that more than one system 

 of feeding may be followed. Stallioners of the older school recommend saltpetre 

 to keep the system clear and to avoid "Monday morning" difficulties. A table- 

 spoonful of saltpetre in the Saturday evening bran mash is the customary prac- 

 tice of many good stallion owners. Intelligent feeders keep the stallion in normal 

 condition throughout the year; feed to have him gain rather than lose weight 

 during the breeding season, avoid radical changes in the system of feeding and 

 do not feed hay or give large quantities of water in the morning to distend the 

 belly and make service difficult. 



Dr. Campbell, of the Kansas State Agricultural Experiment Station, sug- 

 gests the following combination of feeds that might be fed to stallions. The parts 

 are by weight : 



Oats ; prairie or timothy hay. 



Oats 4 parts ; corn 6 parts ; bran 3 parts ; prairie or timothy hay. 



Oats 4 parts ; corn 6 parts ; linseed meal 1 part ; prairie or timothy hay. 



Corn 7 parts ; bran 3 parts ; linseed meal 1 part ; prairie or timothy hay. 



Corn; alfalfa hay; prairie or timothy hay. 



He further suggests that one-third alfalfa fed in the morning and two-thirds 

 prairie hay fed at night and corn fed three times a day, is a comparatively cheap 

 and satisfactory ration where alfalfa is grown, and that barley or kafir might be 

 substituted for corn. 



The judgment of many stallion owners leads to the conclusion that rations 

 containing oats and a variety of the most wholesome feeds should be seriously 

 considered and provided, especially as the breeding season approaches and 

 advances. 



Exercising and Grooming the Stallion. Daily exercise throughout the 

 year is essential to best results in keeping a stallion. To work him regularly is 

 one of the best means of exercising. Driving, riding and allowing him to run 

 in a paddock daily are other means. He should not be overworked, but kept in a 

 firm muscular form, that gives energy, vigor and health. 



