Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 252, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1911 — FEEDING THE COLT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FEEDING THE COLT

By Pref W. W. SMITH,

DooJaa g -t- --1 £ A—naßßßi hmwwmj iiumk jcihxm vk Agmsuuie

Pardee University Agricnknral Extensiea

Our object in the feeding and care of the colt should be to secure a sturdy body, hard, strong bone, and ian active, vigorous disposition. In other words, we want the largest and strongest development possible at maiturity. Without the liberal use of isuitable feeds In combination with sensible care and management this result will be impossible. To stimulate rapid growth and the Strongest development, the young colt {should be given the opportunity of eattlng dry food at an early age. When {one month old he will usually exhibit lan Interest In his mother’s feed box at meal time. A good way to encourage the colt to eat Is to place the mother’s feed box low enough for the youngster to reach. In a short time his capacity will demand a separate trough and an individual ration.» The demands of the colt are largely for bone and muscle and nerve building material. It Is impossible to grow tough feet, flinty bone, and strong elastic muscle upon com and timothy hay alone, especially when I exercise and pastures are not what {they should be. Prior to weaning the maximum supply of the mother’s milk ■should be sought by judgment In her {work and a plentiful’supply of good loats and a little bran. If the energies of the mother are conserved as much as possible and if she is naturally a good milker we have the most important conditions for rapid growth in the icolt. Add to this about all the bats

the colt will clean up twice or three times a day, with access to a grass paddock, and the results should be most favorable. Corn should be fed in very small quantities, If at all. It tenda more to fattening than to growth. The best results are usually obtained when oats, , bran and timothy hay constitute the. main reliance. In the absence of bran a handful of oil meal will be found very desirable. A little salt should be supplied two or three times per week, or better still, made constantly accessible. The amount of grain to supply the colt before and after weaning should be determined by,., the appetite and condition of the colt No more should be given than will be cleaned up promptly. No harm will come from allowing the young colt hay at will, though it is usually wise to limit this part of the ration when older, especially If he has a tendency to overgorge. Liberal grain feeding should be continued until the colt is well established on pasture the succeeding summer. Grain is never used more profitably than when fed to a well-bred colt Good feeding alone, however, will never develop the best in any young animal. This is especially true of the colt. Judicious feeding must be supplemented by abundant exercise, with clean, sanitary conditions, to guarantee the well-balanced development of bone, “wind” and muscle —the essential things in a good horse of. whatever class or type.

Feed the Foal So as to Produce Plenty of High Quality Bone, Muscle and Nerves.