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 )