5O4 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



usually it can. He can control the time of mating, but of 

 course, not in all instances the time of conception. The ex- 

 tremes in the duration of the period of gestation in the 

 mare may be set down approximately as 295 to 370 days ; 

 in the cow as 265 to 300 days; in the ewe as 145 to 154 

 days, and in the sow as no to 118 days. The average dura- 

 tion approximately of the period of gestation in the mare 

 is 330 days ; in the cow, 282 days ; in the ewe, 149 days, and 

 in the sow 113 days. Usually when breeding animals are 

 in a normal condition as to health and flesh and are properly 

 fed and of sufficient age, they may be depended upon to 

 breed with much certainty and near to the time desired. 



The dam at parturition. The time of parturition is 

 a more or less critical one with the dam. Neglect or in- 

 judicious feeding at such a time may readily prove fatal 

 to both the dam and her offspring. With reference to it, 

 the following recommendations will always be in order : 

 (i) The food preceding parturition should be more or 

 less succulent and slightly laxative; (2) the owner or per- 

 son in charge should aim to be present when it occurs, and 

 (3) the dam should be fed with a prudent caution for 

 some time subsequently. 



Succulence in the food is beneficial : ( I ) In the 

 tendency which it exerts on the digestion in preventing con- 

 stipation, (2) in the influence which it exerts in con- 

 sequence in counteracting all tendency to feverishness such 

 as a constipated condition of the system is sure to induce, 

 and (3) in furnishing in plentiful supply, food for the 

 progeny as soon as born. Some caution, however, is neces- 

 sary in the case of cows known to be free milkers, lest the 

 strong tendency to superabundant milk secretion should so 

 react on the vital forces of the system as to result in milk 

 fever, that dread malady, which, until recently, proved so 

 fatal to dams when it appeared. In summer, no food is 

 superior to grass, and at other seasons, such food adjuncts 

 as field roots, wheat bran, oil cake and corn ensilage with 

 but little of the grain in it, are all good. 



