8 October, 1962
Dr. Ensminger Cites Factors Cutting
Foal Production
BY DR. M. E. ENSMINGER Consultant-Agriservices P. O. Box 373— Clovis, Calif.
Without question more difficulty is experienced in breeding mares than any other kind of livestock. The percentage of mares bred that actually conceive each year will van’ from-10 to a high of 85, with an average probably running less than 50; and some of this number will fail to produce living foals. This means that, on the average, two mares are kept a whole year in order to produce one foal. Bv contrast, nationally, 80 per cent of all beef cows that are bred calve; 90 to 94 percent of all ewes lamb; and 80 to 85 per cent of all sows bred farrow pigs.
The lower percentage conception in mares than in other classes of livestock is due primarily to the following:( 1) Research in the field has lagged,( 2) We try to get mares bred in about 4 months instead of 12, and;( 3) We have arbitrarily limited outbreeding season( late winter and early spring) to a period that at its best is only about 50 per cent in agreement with nature.
In the Bluegrass country of Kentucky, where there are both good horsemen and as desirable conditions for breeding as can be secured under domestication, 66 per cent foaling is considered as average for the area.
Seven Facts To Recognize
Recognition of the following facts may help to increase the percentage of foals produced:
1. Mares bred in the late spring of the year are more likely to conceive. If mares are bred out of season, spring conditions should be duplicated as nearly as possible.
2. Mares bred as three-and fouryear-olds and kept in regular production thereafter are more likely to conceive and produce living foals.
3. Infections or other unhealthy conditions of either the mare 01- stallion are not favorable for production.
4. More conceptions will occur if the mare is bred at the proper time within the heat period. Usually mares bred just before going out of heat are more likely to conceive.
5. Returning the mare to the stallion for retrial or rebreeding is important.
6. Mares in foal should be fed and cared for properly so as to develop the young. Balance of proteins, minerals, and vitamins is important.
7. It must also be remembered that old mares, overfat mares, 01- mares in a thin, run-down condition are less likely to be good breeders. Unfortunately, these conditions frequently apply to mares that are bred following retirement from the race track or the show-ring
A shift of the date of birth( the January 1 birthday, for purposes of racing and showing) to somewhere between March 1 and May 1 would improve conception rate and foaling percentage, simply because mares would be bred under more natural and ideal spring conditions. Thus, it would have considerable virtue from the standpoint of the horse producer. On the other side of the ledger, however, it would create problems in racing and in registrations, both here and abroad. Also, such a deep-rooted tradition would be difficult to change; in fact, much consideration has been given to this matter from time to time. In the final analysis, therefore, stepping-up breeding research is the primary avenue through which the deplorably low percentage foal crop may be improved.
Care Of The Horse’ s Feel
The value of a horse lies chiefly in its ability to move— hence the saying“ No foot, no horse." The important points in the care of a horse’ s feet are to keep them clean, prevent them from drying out, and trim them so they retain proper shape and length. Horsemen should know the names for the parts of a horse’ s foot.
Each day, clean the feet of horses that are shod, stabled, or used and inspect for loose shoes and thrush.
Thrush is a disease of the foot characterized by a pungent odor. It causes a softening of tissues in the deft of the frog or in the junction between the frog and bars. This disease produces lamenesses and, if not treated, can be serious.
Hoofs occasionally become dry and brittle. Dry ', brittle hoofs may split and produce lameness. The frog loses its elasticity and no longer is effective as a shock absorber. If the dryness is prolonged, the frog shrinks in size and the heel contracts. Dry hoofs usually can be prevented by keeping the ground wet around the watering tank. If the hoofs of a shod horse become too dry, either pack them in wet clay once or twice a week after the horse has been used or attach burlap sacks around them. Keep the sacks moistened. A leather sole with tar and oakum packing beneath it may be used unless the horse travels over cinders. After the hoof has absorbed enough moisture, brush on a hoof dressing such as neat’ s-fooi-oil, sweet oil, or linseed oil. Before each soaking with burlap sacks, remove the oil.
Trim the feet so that the horse stands square and plumb. This trill alleviate strain on the tendons and help prevent deformity, improper action, and unsoundness.
The healthy hoof grows % to 1 /, inch per month. If the hoof is not trimmed, the wall will break off and will not wear evenly. To prevent this, trim the hoofs regularly, about once a month, whether the horse is shod or not. Use nippers to trim off the horn, level the wall with a rasp.
Slope Of The Hoof
1 he slope of the hoof is considered normal when the toe of the hoof and the pastern have the same direction. This angle should be kept always in mind and changed only as a corrective measure. If it should become necessary to correct uneven wear of the hoof, correct gradually over a period of several trimmings.
Trim the hoof near the level of the sole— otherwise it will split off if the horse remains unshod. Trim the frog carefully. Remove only ragged edges that allow filth to accumulate in the crevices. Trim the sole sparingly, if at all.
Never rasp the walls of the hoof. This removes the periople, or thin varnish-like outer layer provided bynature as a protective coating that prevents evaporation.
Shoe horses to be used on hard surfaces to prevent the wall from wearing down to the sensitive tissues beneath.( continued on page 9)