THE IN-FOAL MARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 14

THE IN-FOAL MARE.

The farmer who breeds draught horses is usually well situated for tho business. His mares are able from the day when they were served with the horse right up to within a few days of foaling to t>e earning their keep, and if the work is carefully selected for them they will bo much the better for it, and also for the more nutritious food which he is able to give them simply because they are able to earn it. So long as fast, heavy work or drawing heavy loads over uneven and rough roads is given to the other horses to do, and tho mares are spared all work demanding an exixa amount of exertion, or working in shafts, they should not take any harm if allowed to work right up to the time of foaling (says a correspondent to the Farmer and Stock-breeder). They are _ able to do such work as harrowing, ploughing on light soils, rolling, etc., without the least danger of causing them to cast their foals. The fact of a marc having taken the horse does not ensure her being in foal, and the owner is sometimes at a loss for some time to know whether the service has been successful or not. It is essential that the result bo known at the earliest possible opportunity, in order that all heavy work may bo avoided which might prove injurious if the mare be in foal, also to obviate any needless preparations and precautions if she is not

It frequently happens that the mare's disposition will change considerably after being covered with the horse. This, when noticed, is usually a good sign that ehe has conceived. Often a vicious animal, when she has conceived, will become gentle and docile; and, vice versa, a gentle, quiet maro become irritable and dimcult to catch when turned away. But about the sixth month when pregnant other signs are usually forthcoming-*-viz., the enlarging of tho abdomen and the gradual swelling of

the udder, although it may seem to be very slight, is another sign. During the seventh month, however, it is possible to feol the foal by pressing the hand into the abdomen sharply. This causes the foal to move, and as it floats back its hard body can be distinctly felt. When the mare is given a drink of cold water, by watching closely it is possible to see the foal jump distinctly. It is always necessary to remember that plenty of exercise is _ most essential to the pregnant marc, and if she is unable to be kept at light work she should bo turned out into a small paddock for a few hours each day, where she will exercise herself. Feeding should always bo liberal, especially as the time of foaling draws nearer. Crushed oats, _ bran, and some good sweet chaff comprise the best food which can be given, along with some good fresh clover hay.

The best time ior foaling for cart horses on tho farm is usually during Iho month of September,, though in high-class istuds, where exhibiting is tho custom, tho foals are often born in July and August. The mares being in season from September to November at intervals, advantage must be taken of ono of the periods according to the time it is desired that the foal should be born. Although as a rule it is advisable to have the mare covered the first time ,she is in season, this will allow more time to have her covered again if she fails to hold to the first jump. It is generally considered that the maro is most likely to hold to the horse about the ninth day after foaling; out should this period pass without her being covered three weeks will elapso before she comes in season again. The non-recurrence of these symptoms ia the only practicable sign that the mare has conceived, though this is by no means infallible, as it is possible for a pregnant mare to show signs of being in season. Tho usual method is to try the mare with tha horse every three weeks after service, then there is little chance of her being missed. Foaling.— About a fortnight or so before the maro is duo to foal she should be allowed to sleep in a large roomy loosebox with plenty of light and ventilation, preferably from above. A good littering of clean dry straw should bo provided, although it should not be spread too thickly over the floor, as if so it prevents the foal when it arrives from getting up on to its legs easily. Most mares drop their foals under some kind of shelter or other; but in suitable weather tho mare might be allowed to foal in the open, and both dam and offspring might do well; but the difficulty is that if anything went wrong it might bo much more difficult to get them both under cover after foaling than it would have been before. When oarefully housed before foaling the mare is sure to receive better treatment than she would were she left out in the open. No strangers should bo allowed to go into' the box, as they irritate the maro and make her uneasy, and so only her regular attendant should be allowed to feed and attend to her, so as to ensure perfect quietness.

The usual period of gestation is practioally 250 days, although frequently mares go over this time a few_ days ; but to an experienced horseman it is a simple matter to ascertain when a mare is about to foal. The udder will have filled up, and when wax is first noticed secreting on the teats it may be taken for granted that the foal will be born within 48 hours. When this is noticed, and her quarters have fallen away behind, she should not be left for very long at a time, as she might foal any minute.

Generally speaking, it is advisable to rely on Nature's operations, which are simple and safo, and as little assistance as possible should be given if the mare is capable of foaling herself. Should malprcsentation occur, it is best to send immediately for the vet., as he is the most suitable man to deal with such cases. After foaling tho mare and foal should bo kept perfectly quiet and free from all inquisitive visitors. Warm bran mashes, to which a little linseed may bo added, comprise the best food for the maro for a day or two after foaling, and the drinking water should have the cold air taken off it before she is allowed to drink it. After a few days crushed oats and bran and chaff may bo again given, along with some sweet hay or clover as before. When about a fortnight old the two may bo turned, out into a sheltered paddock for an hour or two during the warmest part of the day, but care should bo taken to see that the foal is not allowed to lie down lest it should get cold. Working after Foaling.— Whenever it is possible it is advisable to allow the marc to have a free run with her foal, and not to put her to any further work; but this is not always possible, and it is necessary on many farms that the mare shall continue to do a small share of the work. When the foal is about three weeks old tho mare may bo taken away for short periods during the day and put to light work; but It la necessary to see that she ifi not absent too long at a time,

as when turned away with a mare a foal is constantly sucking and lives on the "little and often" principle in regard to its sucking. As this is Nature's method, it should be adhered to as far as it is possible. If the mare_ comes in from work at all warm or sweating, she should be tied up in the stable and allowed to eat a feed of corn while she cools down somewhat, and it u advisable to draw out the teate once or twice, so as to prevent the foal overdoing itself and setting up scouring. When & few weeks old the youngster will commenceto eat a little with its mother at the crib. This should be encouraged by giving & small feed when tho mare is afterwards taken out to work. DU.VKUiK MARKETS fAEJI AND DAIHI PBODUCE. Mr B. J. M'Abthub (successor to Messrs M'llroy Bros.), George street, reports paying ior produce during the week ending th* 25th irust.j as follows: Stamped fresh J£ggs I Honey (J lb pat), 3/6 1/2 uoz Honey (bulk), bid lb Salt Butter, 1/1 lb | Honey (section), 7/- doz Hep. Butter, 1/2 lb | Honey (Cartons), lib, b'/- | 15/- doz | Beeswax, 1/1. Compressed yeast, 7d packet. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (FEOM OUli OWN UOKKIiSPONDENT.I INVERCARGILL, September 22. There is no change to report hi the oata market sinco last week, prices remaining on the basis of 3s 9d on trucks for A grade Gartons, and other varieties at tho usual reduction of 2d to 4d per bushel. Tho s.s. Te Anau is duo to leave Bluff on Monday or Tuesday, but applications for space for, oats arc decidedly limited. During the week a certain amount oi business lias been done with tho North Island at 4s 3d for A grade Gartons, and 4s for B grade, f.0.b.5.i., Biuff. Merchants aro not disposed to do much business at these figures. Tho demand during tho week has been particularly strong fpr seed lines, and it is evident, that local farmers aro sowing down a greater area in oats than was expected, Tho wisdom of this is undoubted, as it seems certain that prices next season must again r~ule considerably above tho normal. The local demand for chaff still keeps decidedly strong, and as barely sufficient for requirements is offering by growers, prices have advanced slightly, prime? quality being worth from £5 5s to £5 10s, depending on the distance of the siding from town.

Wholesale inquiries for ryegrass from northern merchants aro still as strong as ever. Local merchants are disinclined to do business, except at their own figures, which are on tho basis of 7s 6d per bushel for 291 b to 501 b seed. Sales of Italian have also been made during tho week at 6s 10d to 7s 2d for extra prime lines. There is a little movement in the local hemp market, merchants ideas of values in the meantime being about £53 to £54 for high fair. A good deal of indecision exists, due to uncertainty respecting the prices fixed by the Imperial Government. The only demand for tow is local, third grade being worth about £5 on trucks. Shipping is quite out of the question, owing to freight difficulties, so that this article is more or less a drug in tho market. OAMARU MARKETS. (Feom Oub Own Coehebpondent > OAMARU, September 22. Business all round in this market has been slow during the week. There remains little grain to be handled, and the only wheat seen on the market consists of farmers' cleaning-up lots, several of which, have been dealt in at Government prices. For oats there is a good sale, with fewlines available. Some business has been, done in Gortons at the subjoined prices, net at country stations. Good heavy eeed, 4s; first-class B grade, 3s lOd to 3s 10id. Potatoes have dropped back in value, and there has been only a small amount of business doing. In the earlier part of the week £3 10s net on trucks was given for prime Up-to-Dates, but since then purchases have been made at £3 ss, which is now the extreme quotation. AUCKLAND STOCK MARKET. AUCKLAND, September 19. At the Auckland stock market choice ox brought 56s per 100 lb: prime, 50s to 51flj cow and heifer, 50s to 555; best wethers, 45a to 525; others, 37s to 44s 9d. Bacon pigs sold at equal to lOd, and porkers 8d to 9£d. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Dulgety and Co. report: —Oate: There is no volume of business passing in thi3 cereal. Offerings are light, and growers' ideas of value are beyond what buyers are prepared to pay in many cases. Good, bright, heavy lines suitable for milling and seed requirements are in most demand, the demand for lower grades being slack. Prime milling and seed.lines, 4s Id to 4s 2d; good to best feed, 3s lOd to 4a 2d; medium to good, 3s 7d to 3s 9id; damaged and inferior, 3s 3d to 3s 6d per buehel (sacks extra). Wheat: The few consignments coming forward are being disposed of in small quantities for local feed requirements, and the prices obtainable for best whole wheat are 6s 3d to 6s 6d per bushel (sacks extra.)-. Potatoes: Choice freshly-picked lines of tables are the only description inquired for, and consignments of this description are saleable on arrival at quotations. Lines requiring picking or faulty lines are neglected and difficult to quit. Seed lines of Gamekeepers are in over-supply and neglected. Choice freshlypicked tables, £4 5s to £4 10s; medium to good, £3 10a to £3 15s; others, from £2 per ton (sacks in). Chaff: During the past week the market has been barely supplied. All consignments meet a ready sale on arrival. Good, bright, heavy oaten sheaf is in good demand at quotations. Choice black oaten sheaf, to £6 15s; best white oaten sheaf, £6'ss to £6 10s; medium to good. £5 10s to £6; damaged and inferior, £4 15s to £5 5s per ton (sacks extra). Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report: Oats: The past week has been a quiet one so far as actual business is concerned. There have been many inquiries for good feed and prime milling qualities, but local stocks are light, and in most cases growers still holding lines are not disposed to accept prices offered. Prime milling, 4s Id to 4s 2d; good to best feed, 3s lOd to 4s; inferior to medium, 3s 4d to 3s 9d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: There is strong inquiry for fowl wheat, but only small lots are coming forward. There are not nearly sufficient to supply tho demand. Best whole fowl wheat sells at 6s 3d to 6s 6d: medium to good, 5s 9d to 6s 2d per bushel (sacks extra),i Potatoes: The demand is practically confined to freshly-picked' lots in sound condJ-

tion. These are readily placed, but faulty lota are quite out of favour. The market is heavily stocked with seed lines, for which ihere 13 little demand. Best table potatoes, £A 5s to £4 10a; medium to good, £3 10s to £4 per ton (sacks extra). Chaff: The market is almost bare of supplies. Prime oaten fiheaf meets strong demand and ready sale on arrival. Medium qualities are also more 9aleablo. Prime oaten sheaf, £6 10s to £6 15a; medium to good, £6 to £6 ss; light and discoloured, £5 5s to £5 15s per ton (bags extra).

OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand (Ltd.) reports:—We held our weekly sale on Saturday last. The entry waa smaller than any of the past few ■weeks, only about 25 of all sorts coming {forward. The attendance was large of town farriers and contractors. Farmers wore not inuoh in evidence, and buyers were very limited. The result of the day's operations Was not of a startling nature—in fact, very little business was done. In draught horses We had only about half a dozen on offer, and although they were really good sorts, suitable for town or farm work, competition was anything but brisk, and few sales Wore effected. A good number of the lighter sorts changed hands at small prices. Quotations: —Young, "sound, sharp, clifty tfeldings, £25 to £2B; extra heavy horses, »26 to £32; seven year-old and over mares &nd geldings, £l3 to £2O; and what is tisually termed aged. £lO to £l2; vanners s ftnd spring-carters, £l4 to £2O; light sorts Of harness horses at fluctuating prices. PROPERTY MARKET. George W. Kidd, land agent and valuer. Princes street, reports having sold privately, at satisfactory prices, on behalf of Mr E. M. O'Shane, his freehold farm at Wylie's Crossing, containing 674 acres, with stock and implements as a going concern; on behalf of W. A.Probert, Waitati, his freehold farm of 142-3 acres, with Bfcock and implements as a going concern; On behalf of Mr J. J. Roughan, Wylie's Crossing, his freehold farm of 59i acres, Vith stock and implements as a going concern.