198 The Diseases of Animals 



for breeding purposes. Excessive sexual intercourse in 

 all animals tends to lessen the fertility of the animal. 

 Breeding very young animals is likely to stunt the 

 growth of females and to impair the vigor of the 

 reproductive ",ystem in males. Stallions should not 

 be used for breeding purposes until three years old, 

 and should be limited to fifteen or twenty mares the 

 first season, and not used very frequently even then. 

 Bulls may be used for breeding at two years old, but 

 should be limited to fifteen or twenty cows. A judi- 

 cious use of young breeding males will greatly prolong 

 their vigor and fertility. 



SIGNS OP PREGNANCY 



It is often important to determine whether a female 

 is pregnant, as the value of the animal may be enhanced 

 or lessened by such a condition. In its early stages, 

 pregnancy is difficult to recognize. One of the first 

 signs is the absence of the usual period of heat, or 

 rutting, although in some cases a pregnant animal 

 will take service by the male. Service is usually re- 

 sented by the female. There is a tendency for the 

 animal to be more quiet than usual, and to take on 

 fat more readily. This fact is sometimes taken advan- 

 tage of by unscrupulous persons who breed animals, 

 when beginning to fatten them for the market. In 

 some eases, a pregnant female becomes more cross 

 toward other animals and will drive them away. As 

 pregnancy advances, the belly becomes more pendulous 

 and movements of the fetus (the young animal in the 



