HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dawson, W. M. Articles by Speelman, S. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Dawson, W. M. Articles by Speelman, S. R.

Growth of Horses under Western Range Conditions

United States Department of Agriculture^,2

Abstract

Growth studies are reported on 297 horses (16 Belgian, 59 grade draft, 75 Morgans and 147 grade light) foaled at the United States Range Livestock Experiment Station, Miles City, Montana, from 1927 to 1934, inclusive. The young stock grew normally from birth to 18 months of age under a system of management in which they were adequately fed. Thereafter, when maintained principally on range pasturage, they lost weight on the average every winter, and, while they made rapid gains on grass the next summer, they matured at a somewhat smaller size than would be expected if they had been well fed throughout the whole growing period. Significant differences in both height and weight were found between the breed groups studied. Males tended to be larger than females and appeared to mature more slowly. The differences in the sexes increased with age up to five years. Weight was affected more than height by the adverse conditions. Yearly variations in growth were significant but not consistent in the various groups.

¹ Bureau of Animal Industry, Washington, D. C. The authors acknowledge assistance of J. R. Quesenberry, superintendent of the United States Range Livestock Experiment Station, and E. B. Osborn, who was directly responsible for collection of the data.

² This work was conducted cooperatively by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station.