Growth of Horses under Western Range Conditions

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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. Copyright © . .

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