The Brood Mare 283 



mare which the stallion breeds does not take the semen 

 completely into the uterus. If the semen, however, does 

 all go into the uterus, it cannot be obtained by this 

 method. Therefore, it is not largely used, as it cannot 

 always be depended on, but it is a very easy and useful 

 method in some cases. 



With all of these methods of artificial impregnation, it 

 is advisable to ha\'e the mares in heat, although some 

 results have been obtained otherwise. All the mares 

 should be at the breeding place at the same time. The 

 semen may be kept for a limited interval if under ideal 

 conditions, but this is not advisable, as the spermatozoa 

 weaken rapidly even when kept in the best manner 

 possible. It is also necessary that everything be kept in 

 sanitary condition, and that the operator be exceedingly 

 careful in regard to temperature and light. Artificial 

 impregnation as a whole has proved very successful 

 and will doubtless be used more in the future. 



Care after service. 



After the mare has been bred she should be kept rather 

 quiet for several hours, but after that she may be put to 

 work as usual. The best treatment she can receive is 

 steady work and three meals a day. If there is no slipping, 

 straining, or jerking, and the mare keeps up in condition 

 on good feed, the work is probably not too hard, providing 

 it be steady. The mare should not be worked so hard that 

 she will run down in condition on good feed. If there is 

 any slacking in the work it should be about the fifth or 

 sixth month, as it is at that time that the foetus is making 

 its most rapid growth. During the last months of preg- 

 nancy the mare can do a large amount of work without 

 injury. If the mare is working steadily it will not hurt 



