THE HEALTH OF THE HORSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 15

THE HEALTH OF THE HORSE.

FIFTEEN GOOD TESTS. There are fifteen different ways of knowing when, a horse is in health. -A horse, recently remarked a writer in the Farmers’ Gazette (Dublin), can clearly indicate .his. condition by the exhibition of the signs of health which are patent to everyone who will take the trouble to read, them and which are as underlined: — . . '

1. The skin. and hair are unbroken. 2. The coat ,is sleek, shiny, and lies close down to the skin. 3. The body, surface is warm and of equal temperature. 4. The feet are cool. 5. The eye is bright. 6’. The mouth is moist and sweet.

7. The breath, is sweet, 8. The mucous membrane (found in the mouth aqd inside eyelids and nbstrils) is of a rosy pink colour and all of one hue.. 9. The evacuations are fairly firm and are formed into pellets; their colour and consistence will, however, vary in accordance with. the. feeding, thus in a grass-fed horse we .expect them to be softer and greener, jn colour than in a horse fed.bn oats and hay, for instance. (A.horse evacuates .from 19 to 12 times during the 24 . hours, passing excreta to the amount pf some 201 b to 301 b; but this , will, of course, vary with the size bf the animal and the quantity of food given). 10. The urine is normal and of ordinary quality and quantity, though it also to an extent varies with the food. In colour it is yellow or yellowish-red, turbid in, .appearance usually, and it is passed in quantities .pf from eight to 14 pints in the .24 hours, varying, however, as before stated, with the amount and sort of food consumed. , JI. The respirations are scarcely perceptible in the healthy horse at rest, but if counted—which may be done by watching closely the movements of the noSttils: (all. .horses . breathe through their nostrils alone in health) or flanks will be found to be from nine to 13 per minute. i v 12. The pulse, which may be taken by ■ compressing' with the fingers the ‘ inferior maxillary artery, as it turns found the angle of tfie brancU of the lower jaw bone, bn its inner side, or, the’posterior radical artery at th® inner side of the . forearm just beneath the breastbone,, whjph. will; be; found to be strong, full, and pulsating at from 36 to 40 times a minute. 13. The temperature taken per rectum with a thermometer,, which, every owner should have and ought to learn to read, will register from 99 to 101 degrees, br perhaps,' in .the heat of the day, a little higher; : “ - 14. The horse stands square on all his feet, always so ph- his two fore ones, blit ’ sometimes retiring on his hind' legs, which is -natural;and consequently no indicative of disease. Restiag, or as ?it is called “favouring” one of his fore limbs is always a' sign ®f something being wrong.' .... • j§. In . health the horse has a good appetite, drinks freely, though not excessively. His general appearance is bright and brisk and he lies down to rest regularly. . . • MILKING SHORTHORNS. i IMPORTANT QUALITIES. ■ The iinprovement of the milking properties- of the dairy Shorthorns is engaging much attention in Great Britain, says “P,” in Live Stock Journal, • but a greater difficulty seems to be the retention of those properties without unduly sacrificing the grazing and, other important. qualities.. The erredtekti care is, • therefore, necessary in - tlle ; selection' of'the'bull,-which' is frequently termed “one-hal'f the herd,” as evil, effects cannot be detected until mischief has been done and the remedy made difficult.. .. Not only Should the sire be selected .for his good points, but none should be ''bought for use in a dairy herd unless ■ his.dam has.been seen and her milk? 'ing properties approved. Like begets Ijke, but the influence of the granddam on; the. sire’s side may frequently be tracbd \in his production. Well sprung ribs; broad loins, and ability to cover "them with leVel flesh are essential if the dairy Shorthorn is to maintain that universal demand and cosmopolitan character which is now claimed for it. Thjn fleshed'bulls and bullocks will not bring in : the beet'returns whilst a manifest'ability to put on flesh on the part of a dry cow or non-breeding heifer will materially improve her price to the grazier or butcher.