HAND-REARING FOALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1939, Page 3

HAND-REARING FOALS

CARE AND TREATMENT. EXERCISE ESSENTIAL. A foal raised by hand seldom shows the thrift and development that results from natural conditions, but if strong and vigorous at the beginning it should be well worth while to try hand feeding, states E. Van Nice, Assistant (Live Stock) at the Dominion Experimental Station, Scott. Saskatchewan. It sometimes happens that another mare is at hand with a foal approximately the same age, which mare, if a good milker, may be induced to raise both foals. Failing this, the more difficult plan is necessary.

If the foal is newly born, and has not had the laxative first milk or colostrum from its mother, an ounce of castor oil may be given to relieve the bowels of fecal material, and a rectal injection of warm, soapy water may be helpful. Normal mare’s milk contains a higher percentage of water and sugar than cow’s milk, but less fat and protein. Ono tablespoonful of sugar and four tablespoons of lime water to each pint of fresh cow’s milk makes a satisfactory food for a start. The foal should be fed about every hour during the first 24 hours, and will consume about one gallon of the milk in that time. The milk should always be given warm while the foal is young. At first, a bottle and nipple may be required but the foal will soon drink from a small pail or dish. It is important to wash and scald the bottle, nipple and containers between f.eedings. As the foal becomes accustomed to the feeding, larger feeds at greater intervals will be satisfactory if the changes are not too sudden. In a month or- six weeks the sugar may be omitted. If the foal has plenty of fresh grass available, the bowels will probably remain normal, but if grass is not provided an occasional tablespoonful of castor oil may be added to the milk as necessary. \

Sunshine and exercise are essential for health; and in the heat of summer, shade is valuable; with salt and fresh water provided. Access to oats and bran will result in early eating of grain, so that when weaning from milk at about six months of age there is practically no setback. At this age, if skim milk is plentiful, it may be continued indefinitely, fresh from the cream separator. r