Horse breeding rules
Horse breeding has many nuances. Proper care of proud handsome men requires a lot of effort and some knowledge. Breeding horses at home is unthinkable without financial injections, and not much at that.
Horse breeding
general information
Horse breeding involves collecting pedigree records. Gathering information makes it possible to breed purebred horses and select new breeds, track the genotype. The initial purpose of data systematization is to select a pair to reproduce healthy offspring and maintain the purity of the breed.
If you choose the right individuals for reproduction, it becomes possible to improve the existing indicators. Breeding horses, taking into account all the data, is the most correct, excludes incest and degeneration of the breed.
When selecting breeding horses, they are guided by the following indicators:
- genetic data;
- heredity;
- pedigree.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the mass of the animal, its exterior, working capacity, endurance. Correct selection is based on careful selection of parental individuals capable of producing healthy offspring. A heterogeneous and homogeneous selection of male and female colors is distinguished. The first method involves the selection of a pair in which one of the individuals does not carry useful characteristics. As a result of reproduction, foals receive the genotype of the parent individual with useful qualities.
Homogeneous selection consists in the selection of 2 individuals with pronounced useful qualities. Such selections are based on the indicators of agility. Both types are equally effective in improving quality within the tribe.
Crossbreeding methods
Horse breeding involves mating in several ways:
- cooking;
- kosyachny;
- manual.
The first 2 methods involve mating within the herd. The cooking method takes place in a corral. The breeding stallion is left in the camp with 7 mares. The male independently selects partners for mating. The mowing method differs by the number of females in the herd.
With the manual method, sexual heat is detected in the desired female and in a specially designated place mating with a breeding stallion is carried out. Before mating, the genitals of both individuals are thoroughly washed with warm water, the mare's tail is lifted and tied up. In order to protect the male, horseshoes are removed from the hind limbs of the female. The fact that insemination has occurred can be recognized by the tail of the male: he will move from top to bottom.
Another breeding method involves artificial insemination, which gives one hundred percent results. The technique of insemination involves collecting sperm from the best male and freezing it in liquid nitrogen. This method is much more effective than all of the above. Before sperm can be injected into the uterus, it must be diluted. With the seminal fluid of one male, about 500 females can be fertilized per season.This method protects horses from sexual transmission.
Pregnancy
If the mating is successful, the horse will not let the stallions near him. The main signs of pregnancy in a horse are as follows:
- increased appetite;
- calmness.
Already in the first 20 days after mating, pregnancy can be determined by the rectal method. The uterus is examined through the rectum. She is in good shape and begins to change shape. The horse carries a foal for 11 months. The mare needs more careful care throughout the pregnancy. The main thing is to provide the horse with a balanced feed. The key to the horse's well-being is optimal physical activity.
Maintaining the hygiene of the stable is very important. Post-pregnancy care is also a very important step. During this period, there is a tendency to obesity, so it is important to control nutrition and ensure adequate exercise.
How to feed a foal mare
In the stall period, a foal horse is given 6-7 kg of carrots. This root vegetable is the main source of beneficial minerals necessary for the normal development of the fetus and the maintenance of the health of the mother. Also, sprouted grains enriched with vitamins A, B, E are introduced into the diet. Vitamin supplements are gradually introduced into the diet.
During fertility, the animal's body loses calcium and phosphorus. If the mother does not receive enough minerals, she begins to eat earth, feces, sand or lick the walls. At the last stage of pregnancy, mineral supplements should be calculated for every 100 kg of weight:
- calcium 17 g;
- phosphorus 7 g;
- carotene from 25 to 35 mg.
Bean hay is considered a source of protein. However, in the last stage of fertility, it should be excluded, as well as roughage. The uterus is fed four times a day. When grazing, it is unacceptable to graze mares on a pasture covered with dew.
Colt
Before giving birth, the mare is transferred to a separate pen. The stable should be clean and spacious so that the animal can freely turn and lie down in it. On the day of permission from pregnancy, the uterus becomes a little restless, walks around the stall more than usual, seeks to get away from the herd.
Most often, foaling occurs at night. For the most part, birth in horses is quick and does not require human intervention. However, there is a risk group that includes:
- first-borns;
- history of abnormal labor;
- previous miscarriages;
- in the past, offspring were born with genetic abnormalities.
It is recommended to conduct an examination of foal individuals, which includes examination of the state of the uterus, ultrasound, blood and urine tests. Such manipulations help to identify pathologies of fetal development in the early stages. Before giving birth, milk oozes from the udder. If the timing is still far from the foal, and the milk oozes for several days, you should contact your veterinarian.
Childbirth usually lasts 15 to 45 minutes. An hour after permission from pregnancy, the mare should have free access to water and hay. The foal is applied to the breast no later than 2 hours after birth. At this moment, the foal can already stand on its feet. If the baby does not eat or get up, a nasal feeding tube will have to be placed.
Foal
Foal care is a very important process. It's important to keep track of your weight gain. The daily norm for a riding horse breed is 500-900 g. It is very important to provide proper care for the mother. During this period, the body is restored.
Attention should be paid to appetite, body temperature and physical condition. Discharge from the genitals should stop in three days, otherwise you should contact your veterinarian. Exercise helps to restore the body.
The basis of the foal's nutrition in the first 60 days is breast milk. At the age of 1.5 months, babies begin to gradually get used to combined feeds. At the same time, roughage is introduced into the diet.Already at 2 months, the foal should eat 1 kg of hay.
Stable
Features of keeping horses include equipping a separate room. The stable must meet the following requirements:
- optimal temperature conditions, no drafts;
- big square;
- thermal insulation.
The walls and roof of the stable must be insulated. The flooring is made of a material that does not absorb moisture. A litter of hay or sawdust is laid on the floor. Room hygiene is important, so the bedding should be changed regularly.
The walls are made of bricks and sheathed with plywood. The floor is best made of expanded clay concrete. This coverage is the most optimal option. These floors are warm enough and the cost will not hit your wallet hard.
Shoe and shoe
Home breeding involves grooming, bathing, and shoeing. An adult horse is washed every 7 days. This will require a brush, scraper and a mane comb. Horses should not be washed too often or a skin condition may develop.
After bathing, the fur is rinsed and wiped dry. A horseshoe is carried out if the animal is involved in hard work or is used for competition. Shoe the front or hind hooves. Sometimes horseshoeing of all 4 limbs is carried out.
How to make money on a horse farm
Horse breeding is quite expensive. This will require large initial infusions. Most often, businesses are not opened by beginners in this field. Today horse breeding is in the stage of revival. Only the most persistent and successful enterprises with an established sales scheme and the provision of all kinds of services were able to cope with the crisis of the past years.
At the initial stage of development, such a business will not be able to bring profit. For the most part, people who are interested in the conservation of breeds, and not in economic development, are engaged in such matters. Most often, these farms specialize in teaching horseback riding and organizing all kinds of events involving horses. A profitable branch of development is hippotherapy.
Conclusion
At this time, breeding horses at home is a rather expensive activity. In addition to large financial investments, caring for animals is a painstaking and complex process. Horse breeding includes selection work, for the implementation of which it is necessary to systematize and record data on the pedigrees and genotypes of the entire livestock.
Gathering information helps to select the right breeding individuals to improve the quality of offspring. A horse farm can make money. To make your interest in horses profitable, you should study the service market, realistically assess your capabilities and competitiveness. Breeding beautiful horses is the ideal solution for many people.