316 Feeds and Feeding, 



box, then mixed witli bran and water enougli to moisten it to 

 make tbe bran adhere to the oats." 



At Palo Alto foals were weaned at fiv^e months of age; in this 

 case the pair which had run together and become acquainted 

 were put in a darkened stall in the eyening, the dam being 

 placed out of hearing. They were not allowed to suck after 

 the first separation. The box-stalls were without projections of 

 any kind, so that it was impossible for the foals to injure them- 

 selves, though they often reared against the sides of the stall or 

 struck at the door in struggling to escape. The companionship 

 of the pair, and the fact that they had been taught to eat dry 

 food, helped them to sooner forget their dams. 



498. Feeding the colt after weaning. — Colts are nondescripts, 

 for the rearing of which no definite rules can be given, but com- 

 mon sense, patience and alertness should prevail. These awk- 

 ward animals, utterly useless as yet, must nevertheless be care- 

 fully looked after, the aim being to supply food liberally, with 

 plenty of sunlight and an abundance of exercise. Oats lead in the 

 list of feeding stuffs, but shorts and bran with barley, peas and 

 some corn may be profitably used where economy is important. 

 These feeds, aside from corn, are rich in bone-making material 

 and will be found satisfactory as well as economical. Colts suf- 

 fer at times from teething, and to subsist wholly upon hard, dry 

 food may work injury. Steamed crushed oats or barley, thick- 

 ened with bran, will prove appetizing and very nourishing in 

 such cases. Eoots may be cooked and the mass extended with 

 ground grain and bran. A limited quantity of this feed given at 

 night in winter-time, daUy, or two or three times a week, will 

 show its effect in a better colt and a more thrifty general appear- 

 ance. Withholding coarse provender and giving concentrated 

 grain ia large quantities in its place at this period is to be dep- 

 recated, for it is important that the digestive tract be developed 

 to a moderate extent by distention with coarse feed that it may 

 serve its purpose when the animal is grown. The " big belly" 

 which a properly-fed colt may carry at this period is nothing to 

 its harm, even though it annoy the short-sighted stockman who 

 foolishly may wish to see in his growing colt the trim form of the 

 finished product. 



