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THE P E R C H E R O N R E \' I E W 
Yearling Percheron FilHes in Illinois Experiment 
Developing Draft Colts 
The importance of good feeding, commonly re- 
ferred to as the "corn-crib cross," is well understood 
by successful producers of draft mares. Such feed- 
ing, coupled with abundant exercise, results in 
desirable thriftiness, which is not found in the under- 
fed or overfed. The part which good pastures play 
in development is quite generally appreciated. The 
judicious feeding of some grain, however, along with 
pasture, and the use of green corn during the dry 
spells common to late summer, are not practiced 
to as great an extent as would be profitable. 
During seasons when pasture is not available, 
good growth may be secured on timothy or prairie 
hay, provided enough oats and bran are fed with 
them. On the other hand, good quality legume 
hays, such as alfalfa and red clover, may be used 
to advantage. When such roughage is fed, less grain, 
and grain in which the nutrients cost less, may be 
fed; a part of the grain ration may well be corn. 
Furthermore, consideration of this latter type of 
ration and results obtained from feeding seem to 
show that there is little need of feeding purchased 
protein concentrates, because the rations abundantly 
supply the muscle and bone-building elements needed 
for growth. Again, by relying, to a considerable 
extent at least, upon such feeds, we are making use 
of the crops which are most desirable to grow on 
corn-belt farms. In this connection, a brief con- 
sideration of the growth made by Percheron fillies 
now being fed at the Illinois Experiment Station 
may prove of some interest. 
A lot of ten weanling fillies was started on feed 
late in the fall of 1914. Four of these fillies were 
produced by the college mares, six were purchased 
from Illinois breeders, two from A. L. Robison & 
Sons three from George Frerichs & Sons and one 
from G. W. Weyhrich. These fillies are registered 
in the Percheron Society of America as Eleanor 
110,668, Karol 110,836, Blue Bell 110,669, Isabel 
110,670, Madame 109,992, Midinette 109,993, Dottie 
Sloan 106,156, Primrose 106,240, Dorethy 110,194, 
and Miss Yoke 111,136. 
The fillies were fed well-cured alfalfa hay, corn 
one-half, oats one-half, proportioned by weight. 
The corn and oats were ground during the first 
winter and afterward were fed whole; the corn, 
however, was shelled, in order to insure the fillies 
having equal opportunity for getting their share. 
At no time were they fed more than would prevent 
their polishing the mangers clean. During pasture 
season they ran on eight acres of good blue grass 
and in addition they were fed approximately half 
grain ration. On this fare the fillies have made a 
good growth of frame and have carried enough con- 
dition for thrift. For shelter, the lot had a shed 
space forty feet by sixteen feet, open on one side. 
This shelter was not sought except at feeding time 
and during storms. 
The average weight of the fillies at the beginning 
of the trial was 823 pounds; the average weight on 
the day they were one year of age was 1112 pounds; 
the average weight of the lot on March 14, 1916, was 
1445 pounds. They were at no time fat, but are well 
grown in bone and muscle. At this time most of the 
fillies were not yet two years of age, there being two 
March foals, one June and one July, and the balance 
April and May foals. Details of gains in height, 
weight, and cost of same will be available in a few 
months. J. L. Edmonds. 
Illinois Experiment Station, 
March 25, 1916. 
Percheron Facts from Practical Farmers 
"Too many farmers want to get out of debt 
before purchasing a purebred mare," says F. S. 
Allen of Tazewell County, Illinois. "They seem to 
regard a registered mare as a luxury instead of a 
necessity. While the cost at the beginning is more. 
