Important factors in selecting hogs

Basic rules in housing hogs

Basic rules in breeding and improving hogs

III. HORSES

Selecting Horses

Horses are grouped into two general types: work horses and saddle horses.

In selecting a farm work horse, the primary aim is to secure an animal that will pull medium to heavy loads at a reasonable rate for a considerable period of time. In selecting a farm work horse, consider general form, size or weight for age, feet and legs and action. The greater the size or weight of a work horse, the greater the pulling ability.

The age of the horse is an important factor in determinating value. A work horse of five to eight years of age, usually has the highest price.

As with other kinds of livestock, it is important to see the sire and dam and some of the sisters and brothers in order to determine the ability to transmit desired characteristics from generation to generation.

In selecting a stallion the owner should consider the following factors: pedigree, performance and prepotency.

A light (saddle) horse is used for so many different purposes, so many breeds have been developed.

In selecting a horse to race, his ability to run or trot is the most important. In selecting a horse for pleasure riding, sometimes his colour and attractiveness in appearance overbalance all other qualities. In selecting a saddle horse, especially for children to ride, quietness in disposition must overbalance all other qualities.

As far as light horses are concerned, especially those used in racing, for pleasure riding and in exhibitions, good training is necessary so that they will serve their purpose successfully.

In additions to these characteristics, selections are based much more on pedigree and records of close ancestors than on individual appearance.

EXERCISES

1. Study the new words:

Work horses, saddle horses, pulling ability, determinating value, different purposes, pleasure riding, to overbalance, records of close ancestors.

2. Characterize work horses and saddle horses:

Good for children, the most useful on a farm, able to pull heavy loads, good in racing and pleasure riding, need much professional training.

Housing Horses

The quarters for horses should be dry, comfortable and warm. Horses should have individual stalls. Each stall is about 4.5 to 5.5 feet wide, depending on the size of the horse. A standard length for a horse stall is 7 feet, some farmers prefer cement floors in the barn.

If foals are raised, provide a box stall for the mare and her offspring. A standard-size stall is 12 feet square.

Because horses are kept by man to do work, their value depends on how long they live and remain healthy. Individual daily care and feeding are required throughout the year.

Successful indoor foaling requires a good box stall. As foaling time approaches, place the mare in the box stall, and watch her closely. Unlike parturition in the cow or sow, foaling is rapid and occurs soon after the appearance of the first signs of starting parturition.

The average foal has sufficient strength to get on its feet within 2 hours after it is born. If foal is too weak, take some milk from the mare and feed the foal.

By the time the foal is three to five days old, turn both mare and the foal outdoors to get some exercise. Weather should be warm for the young foal to be outdoors.

A mare may be put to work by the time her foal is two weeks old. It is desirable to keep the foal in the box stall while the mare is working. A mare can raise a foal and do almost a full season’s work if properly and carefully handled and well fed.

EXERCISES

1. Look through the following words. You’ve already learnt some of them.

Quarters, stalls, a foal, a mare, to be required, parturition, appearance, average, sufficient strength, weak, to handle, a barn.

2. Insert the words into the sentences:

1) Heavy planks are desirable for the floors in horse … .

2) Large well-developed … may be used for light work when they are two years old.

3) In some cases part of the general purpose … is used for … work horses.

4) The … foal has sufficient strength to get on its feet within 2 hours after it is born.

5) The less the … and the foal are disturbed during the first days of their life, the better they will get along.

6) Selection is based much more on pedigree and prepotency than on individual … .

3. Answer the questions:

a) What do you know about housing equipment for horses?

b) What does health of horses depend on?

c) Speak about peculiarities of foaling.

d) Speak about the development of a foal soon after its birth.

Feeding Horses

There is no better forage for horses than clean pastures. Moreover, pastures provide exercise with plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Feeding on pastures is the ideal existence for young stock and breeding animals.

Legume pastures are excellent for horses.

Horse pastures should be well drained and not too rough or stony. Shade, water and minerals should be available on all pastures.

Horses cannot consume very large quantities of roughages. Of all the concentrates, oats is the most important.

Water is essential to the various physiological processes of the horse. The average mature horse will consume about 12 gallons of water daily. In addition to the type, and the work performed, weather conditions and the kind of feed consumed also effect the quantity of water desired. Regularity and frequency of watering are desirable and that it is dangerous to water heavily a horse that is very warm or the one that has been deprived of water for a long time.

Frequent but small waterings between feedings are desirable during warm weather or when the animal is put to hard use. It is always better to water frequently in small quantities.

Horses are often fed too much hay or other roughage, and labored breathing and qiuck tiring is the result. Usually, young horses and idle horses can be provided with an unlimited allowance of hay. Much good will result from feeding young and idle horses more roughage and less grain. If possible, it is wise to have more than one kind of hay in the stable.

EXERCISES

1. Find the equivalents in the text:

Обеспечивать, потреблять, грубая пища, овес, сено, взрослый, важный, лишить, затрудненное дыхание, частота.

2. Match the beginning and the end of the sentences:

3. Ask 4-5 questions to the text. Work in pairs.

Peculiarities of Foaling

Necessary preparations. In selecting a brood mare, it is usually advisable either to obtain a young three or four year old or to prove the sure and regular breeding habits of any old mares.

The average gestation period of mares is 336 days, or a little over eleven months. This will vary with individual mares and may range from 310 to 370 days.

The most natural breeding season for the mare is in the spring of the year. Usually mares are gaining in flesh at this time; the heat period is more likely to conceive. The springborn foal may be dropped on pasture with less danger of infection and with an abundance of exercise, fresh air and sunshine to aid in his development. Such conditions are ideal.

A breeding record should be kept on each mare so that it will be known when she is to foal. The careful and observant horseman will be able to make certain definite preparations in time. The period of parturition is one of the most critical stages in the life of the mare. Although Pegigree and performance are of great importance, careful housing is most important on this stage.

First hours after the parturition. Once the foal and mare are up, the stall should be cleaned. Wet bedding should be removed. The floor must be sprinkled with lime; and clean, fresh bedding should be provided. If the weather is extremely cold and the mare hot and sweaty, she should be dried soon after getting on her feet. The mare must be given small quantities of water. As far as feeding is concerned, usually, for the first week, no better grain ration can be provided than oats. The quantity of feed given should be governed by the milk flow, the demand of the foal, and the appetite and condition of the mare. Usually the mare can be back on full feed within a week or ten days after foaling.

The good horseman will be able to discover difficulties before it is too late. If the mare has high temperature, something is wrong and the veterinarian should be called. As a precautinary measure many good horseman take the mare’s temperature a day or two after foaling.

Immediately after the foal was born and started breathing, it must be dried with warm towels. Then it should be placed in one corner of the stall on clean, fresh straw. The eyes of a newborn foal must be protected from a bright light.

Weaning time.Weaning of the foal is more a matter of preparation than of absolute separation from the dam. Foals are usually weaned at four to six months, depending on conditions. When either the foal or the mare is not doing well, when the mare is being given heavy work, it may be advisable to wean the foal at a comparatively early age. On the other hand, when both the mare and the foal seem to be doing well, or when it is desirable to develop the foal to the maximum, the weaning may be delayed until six months of age.

When the preliminary precautions and preparation for weaning have been made, the separation should be accomplished. There should be no opportunity for the foal to see, hear or smell its dan again. Perhaps the beast arrangement is to shut the foal in the stall to which it has been accustomedand to move the mare awayto new quarters. After the weaning have remained in the stable for a day or two and have quited down, they mist be turned out to pasture.

EXERCISES

1. Study the new words:

Preparations, a mare, advisable, to obtain, gestation period, gaining in flesh, to conceive, abundance, to foal, observant, parturition, bedding, to concern, to be governed, separation, comparatively, preliminary precautions, the best arrangement.

2. Finish the sentence:

a) Usually mares are gaining in flesh … .

b) Selecting a mare, it is desirable to … .

c) As far as feeding is concerned, the owner should take to consideration … .

d) Foals are usually weaned … .

e) The best way to separate the foal from the dam is … .

3. Ask 4-5 questions to the text. Work in pairs.

4. Retell the text.