582 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



He asserts that " such is the power of imagination and sym- 

 pathy" with mares, that if one aborts others in same pasture 

 are likely to follow. Fresh air, moderate exercise, and freedom 

 from excessive work or strains are among the preventives. 



The mare which once aborts is likely to do so again about 

 the same time in her gestation, unless it has been brought on by 

 acute disease, or she has been cast in stall or strained. A pre- 

 disposition once established, the usefulness of the mare for a 

 breeder is about ended. 



Age to Breed. THE HEIFER. The female, as a general 

 rule may be bred at an earlier age than the male. Heifers are 

 kept for milk, and the earlier the milking habit is developed the 

 more marked it will become. If the udder be distended before 

 the full development of the animal, the organs of secretion of 

 milk are more pliable and distend more readily. As the milk- 

 ing trait gives chief value to the family cow, she should not 

 only be bred early, but at such a time that when the calf comes 

 the weather and feed available will be favorable to the largest de- 

 velopment of milk. Hence, heifers bred from July to Septem- 

 ber come fresh when they may have the benefit of a long sea- 

 son at grass when the grasses are tender, rich, and abundant. 

 The mild weather, too, does not call for so large an appropria- 

 tion of food consumed to keep up heat in the system. 



The favoring conditions of feed and weather lead to the 

 largest possible secretion of milk, and the pliant, elastic condi- 

 tion of the milk glands favor the highest development of the 

 powers of secretion. But the tax on the system, it is urged by 

 some, tends to check growth, and the animal will never attain 

 to as great size. If beef be the first consideration, then the 

 time of first service may well be deferred until the frame and 

 form are farther developed. Yet it is at the expense of Hie de- 

 velopment of udder, and milk glands, and habit of full and large 

 secretion of milk. 



If the young heifer be liberally fed, the size will not be so 

 much less, as the yield of milk is the greater. The care and 

 feed go farther towards giving good size and early and best de- 

 velopment, than the time of first service. The heifer that lias 



