. Cyclopedia of farm animals. Domestic animals; Animal products. HORSE HORSE 453 are fed liberally on a sloppy mixture of equal parts of crushed oats and bran and sufficient water to form a thin gruel. They are also supplied with fresh drinking-water at all times and with an abundance of good green clover and grasses. At night they are turned into rich pasture lots with their dams. They are weaned at four or five months of age, very little change being made in their feed, and they are allowed to eat all they will con- sume of bran and oats, and of green clover and hay. They are turned into gra
. Cyclopedia of farm animals. Domestic animals; Animal products. HORSE HORSE 453 are fed liberally on a sloppy mixture of equal parts of crushed oats and bran and sufficient water to form a thin gruel. They are also supplied with fresh drinking-water at all times and with an abundance of good green clover and grasses. At night they are turned into rich pasture lots with their dams. They are weaned at four or five months of age, very little change being made in their feed, and they are allowed to eat all they will con- sume of bran and oats, and of green clover and hay. They are turned into grass lots at night and confined to darkened stables dur- ing the day. This system of feeding is fol- lowed until they are three years of age, when they are broken to work. Since most of their feed is green and succulent, it is thought that this is responsible for the great depth of barrels of the Belgian horses, and to some extent for the soft bone and poor quality of feet. Uses. For draft.—As has been said, these horses are bred entirely for draft purposes, and they rank well among the heavy breeds, especially in Europe. The short, stocky legs, and low-set blocky body, make them very useful for slow, heavy hauling over city streets. For crossing.—Belgian draft horses are especi- ally adapted for crossing on grade draft mares, lacking in weight and substance, for the production of heavy draft horses. When crossed on grade Percheron or Clydesdale mares, they impart an increased depth of body with a comparative short- ening of the legs, and a general massiveness of form not easily secured by the use of any other breed of draft stallions. Organizations and records. The National Draft Horse Society of Belgium (Le Cheval de Trait Beige) was founded in 1886, and the American Association of Importers and Breeders of Belgian Draft Horses in 1887. The former association has issued a number of stud- books, and is very aggressive in the interest of the breed. It receives national financ
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbaileylh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1922
