Jacks, Jennets, and Mules 363 
FEEDING OF MULES 
The main difference in feeding mules as compared to 
horses is that they do better in large bunches. In fatten- 
ing mules it is very seldom that they are stall-fed, but 
are usually run in bunches in small lots and all fed together 
like cattle. Mules will seldom over-eat or injure one 
another as would horses under like conditions. If not 
properly watered and fed, they will have colic and other 
diseases the same as horses. Usually, however, they seem 
to have a better sense of self-protection and use better judg- 
ment in regard to their eating. Mules, however, respond 
to careful attention and care the same as horses. 
HANDLING OF JACKS 
The average mule-producer does not own jennets, but 
only a jack which he has purchased from some breeder 
of jacks and jennets. The jacks should be properly 
trained to breed and serve mares before they are sold. 
If they are produced on the farm, care should be taken 
that they are not raised with the jennets, but are sepa- 
rated and raised with horses. They should also not be 
allowed to serve jennets, as very often they will refuse 
to cover mares after mating with jennets. The equip- 
ment for handling the jack is very similar to that of 
handling the stallion except that a pit is needed to lower 
the mare. The main difference in handling is that the 
jack is usually more slow in the service. One way of 
partly overcoming this is to have a slatted door on his 
stall which faces on the breeding lot, so that the jack may 
see the mare some time before he is taken out of the 
stable. Under such management he will generally be of 
quicker service than otherwise. Care should always be 
