RATIONS FOR BROOD-MARES 215 



should never be allowed to work on soft plowed 

 ground or on muddy roads or be driven at a rapid 

 pace, nor should she be used for heavy draft work. 

 Unless she be free in the pasture, she will be bene- 

 fited by regular, light work. 



Brood-mares, when nursing their foals, should be 

 fed much as dairy cows are, that is, for the pro- 

 duction of milk. Timothy hay and corn are not good 

 and economical milk -producing foods when fed alone. 

 (See Appendix III.) The ration of brood-mares and 

 colts should be narrow, about one to five if the 

 stables are comfortable. If the temperature in the 

 stable remains down to zero or below for considerable 

 periods of time, then the ration should be widened to 

 one to seven, or even one to eight, by adding con- 

 centrated carbonaceous foods. Rather wide rations 

 should be fed in the stables which are over -venti- 

 lated draughty. It is wise to feed some succulent 

 food (carrots are best), even if the mare is not giving 

 milk. Matured apples, potatoes and good corn silage 

 may be fed in limited quantities. Bright mixed clover 

 and timothy hay, if fed with judgment, should pro- 

 vide all the needed roughage. Better feed bright 

 straw with nitrogenous grain rations to balance it 

 than to feed overripe or musty and dirty hay. 



For a mare of 1,100 pounds, nursing a foal, the 

 following would constitute a good and sufficient daily 

 ration as long as the foal subsists entirely on its 

 mother's milk: (When it has passed that period, it 

 should be tied during feeding time and fed in a sep- 

 arate manger.) 



