RAISING ORPHAN FOALS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19511, 13 February 1926, Page 9 (Supplement)

RAISING ORPHAN FOALS

AN INSTRUCTIVE CIRCULAR. The Wisconsin Experiment Station in America, in one of its instructive circulars, gives the following hints on the raising of foals without the mother:— In case the mare dies or has no milk the foal may be raised on cow’s milk, if the attendant conducts the work patiently and intelligently. Choose the milk of a cow that has recently calved, preferably one which gives milk low in butter fat, for mares’ milk, while rich in sugar, is poor in fat. Sweeten the milk with molasses or sugar, and dilute with warm water. Give a little of this modified milk, from a scalded vessel, at short intervals. Add an ounce of lime water to each pint of the prepared milk, and allow half a cupful once an hour at first. As the foal grows, gradually increase the amount of milk fed and lengthen the intervals between meals. In a few days food may be given six times a day, and later four times daily. The foal will soon learn to drink from a pail, if allowed to suck the attendants fingers at first. Keep the milk utensils scrupulously clean. Until the bowels move freely, give rectal injections night and morning. If the foal scours at any time stop feeding milk for two or three weeks, allowing sweetened warm water and lime water instead. Let the foal eat C“twal as soon as it cares to do so, and gradually increase the amount an I add wheat bran. In five or six weeks some sweet skim milk may l?e given, and the amount gradually increased daily until, in three months or so, it may be given freely three times a day in place of whole milk. The foal at this age also will he eating freely of grass, grain and bran. Supply pure water as soon as the foal cares to drink. Let the foal run out in a lot or grass paddock for exercise. Accustom it to be handled daily. Feed small quantities of nutritious food often, keeping all food vessels clean, and the foal should thrive and develop wi 11. Remember that a colt should at all times be adequately fed so as to develop it perfectly. Practically half of the full weight of a horse is gained during the first twelve months of his life. If stunted during this period the colt never develops properly: it therefore pays to feed generously.