1962-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1962 December Voice | Page 7

5
Voice of the Tennessee Walking Horse
Dr. Ensminger Analyzes Factors In Pasture Breeding
Bv Dr. M. E. Ensminger
Clovis, California
Today, there is renewed interest in
pasture breeding of horses; largely (1)
as a means through which to lower
labor costs, and (2) because of the
hope that a higher rate of conception
and foaling may be obtained thereby.
So let us analyze the situation.
As every horseman knows, there are
three methods of handling the mating
operations; namely—
1. Hand breeding.—This is the most
common, current practice, in which
tire in-heat mare and the stallion are
mated with the help of two or more
caretakers.
2. Corral breeding.—In which the
in-heat mare and a stallion are turned
loose in a small, well-fenced corral.
The attendants usually remain near­
by, where they can see but not be
seen by the animals, until service is
completed, following which the stal­
lion and the mare are returned to
their respective quarters.
3. Pasture breeding— This consists
in turning the stallion to pasture with
the band of mares that it is intended
that he serve. Except on the ranges
of the far West, this method of breed­
ing is seldom practiced in domestic
horses.
It is generally recognized that no
phase of modern horse production has
become more unnatural or more com­
plicated with domestication than the
actual breeding operations. Indeed,
normal breeding habits of the horse
do not exist under domestication. In
the wild state, each band of thirty to,
forty mares was headed by a stallion
leader who sired all the foals in that
particular band. With plenty of out­
door exercise on natural footing,
superior nutrition derived from plants
grown on unleached soils, regular re­
production beginning at an early age,
little possibility of disease or infec­
tion, and frequent services during the
heat period, 90 per cent or higher
foaling rates were commonplace. By
contrast, under domestication, the
average conception rate is less than
50 per cent, and only the better
breeding establishments exceed 70 per
cent. Why? Certainly it must be con­
cluded that the low fertility encount­
ered under domestication must be
caused to a large extent by the re­
latively artificial conditions under
which horses are mated.
But what’s happening in other
classes of livestock? In a survey that
1 did for the American National
Cattlemen’s Association in 1955, I
found that 98 per cent of the nation’s
commerical cattlemen and 68 per cent
of the purebred cattle breeders used
pasture mating. Further, this same
study revealed that cattlemen average
an 80 per cent calf crop. Also, it is
generally recognized that an e ven
higher percentage of sheepmen and
swinemen pasture breed—and with
satisfactory results, for (1) only 6 to
10 per cent of all ewes are barren and
(2) only 15 to 20 per cent of all sows
fail to pig. It’s something to think
about!
I would be the last person to re­
commend that a valuable stallion be
turned to pasture with a band of
mares, especially without prior con­
ditioning and preparation. I do con­
tend, however, that we might tv-el 1
emulate nature more than we are
now doing; that we should do every­
thing within our power to avoid
breeding and keeping two mares a
whole year to produce one foal (a
50% foal crop) ; and that the time has
arrived when we must lower labor
costs.
Perhaps in the final analysis there
is no one best method of handling the
mating operations. Each enterprise is
an individual case, requiring careful
study. And what will work for one
won't work for another. Therefore,
the choice should be determined pri­
marily by the results being obtained
at the time, by the size and quality of
the horses, by the finances and skill
of the operaior, and by the ultimate
goal ahead.
Recently, I received the following
letters:
Dear A. K.:
You hit the nail on the head when
you referred to "fads, foibles, and
trade secrets.” It's the greatest
“plague" in the light horse industry.
I’m doing everything within my
power to raise the industry above this
level; especially through my writings
and the Horse Science School and
Short Course that I shall direct next
year.
But now to your question; the ad­
visability of self-feeding foals in a
separate enclosure away from their
dams—the practice known as creep­
feeding: When the foal is ten days to
three weeks of age, it will begin to
nibble on a little feed. In order to
promote swift and early development
and to avoid set-back at weaning time,
it is important to encourage the foal
to eat supplementary feed as early as
possible. At four to five weeks of age,
the normal healthy foal should be
consuming i/2 pound of grain daily
per 100 pounds live weight. By wean­
ing time, this should be increased to
about y2 pound of grain daily per
100 pounds live weight. By weaning
time, this should be increased to about
3/, pound or more per 100 pounds live
weight; the exact amount varying
with the individual and the develop­
ment desired. When liberally fed,
foals will normally attain one-half
their mature weight during the first
year and their full height by the time
they are two years of age. It is rec­
ognized, however, that the forced
development of young horses must be
expertly done if the animals are to
remain durable and sound. On the
other hand, it is known that a foal
stunted in the first year by insufficient
feeding cannot be developed properly
later in life.
M. E. E.
Work and Pray for Peace
Dear Dr. E:
Creep-Feeding Foals
I’m kind of a nut about horses
myself and I fully appreciate their
Dear Dr. E.:
"I have a sizeable band of well- value in companionship, sport, and
bred mares that will begin foaling entertainment. I think they’re beauti­
this coming January. I have a hard­ ful, intelligent and altogether wonder­
working, honest man taking care of ful animals. I dearly love my ow-n
them. However, like so many men in horse—and mv parents. But, if there is
this business, much of his thinking is a war I wonder if any of us will live
based on fads, foibles, and trade through it. I can't stand to see animals
secrets. For example, he claims that suffer. Should I sell my horse?
creep-feeding foals is no good. What
R. V.
should I do?"
A. K.
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