How many horses are in the herd: the number of individuals and the specifics of the content

In horse breeding farms, the herd form of keeping animals is often adopted. Staying on the pasture throughout the year and the ability to use pasture to feed stallions and mares significantly saves the money of their owners. Therefore, it is important for farmers to know how many horses can be in a herd and the principles for recruiting such a livestock.

What is a herd and why is it needed

The herd is horses gathered in a group and living in a certain area. Natural communities in natural conditions form wolves, dolphins, zebras and other animals. And even people join families.

Herds are formed to ensure the safety of individuals in the herd. Lonely horses sometimes become the prey of predators. It is easier for a group of animals to resist external threats. Farms form different types of livestock. They are combined into one group:

manufacturers;
mares;
young;
castrated animals.

Herding is considered an economically viable method of breeding horses.

How many horses are in the herd?

The term "herd" is used for a batch of horses consisting of several families, up to 15 individuals in each. In Asian areas with spacious pastures, this method of keeping animals is the main one. Livestock sometimes number in the thousands.

In small farms, the number of horses ranges from 20 to 150. Large farms form herds of up to 500 horses. The indicator is influenced by the direction of development, the availability of places for watering and pastures for walking.

When crowded, animals are hardy and get sick less. Even outwardly herd horses look different. Horses have denser skin and powerful limbs.

Hierarchical structure

Among animals there is always a division into weak and strong. Each group has a clear chain of command. The strongest individual is at the head of the hierarchical structure. The most obedient horse closes the chain. The task of the leader is to find food and reliable shelter from bad weather or predators. The horse plays the leading role until it weakens and gives up its position to a more energetic and young stallion.

Content specifics

Knowing the behavior of horses in a herd is important when breeding animals on a farm. Understanding the causes of behavioral instincts helps the pet owner create a comfortable environment for pets.

Pros and cons

Pros and consStaying horses in their usual environmentOpportunity to communicate with relativesStrengthening immunityDevelopment of the musculoskeletal systemFeed cost savingsThe need for significant space. The pasture area is determined at the rate of 40 hectares per mare with foalsThe need for a solid fence and the need to clear the area from plants harmful to animalsIndependent supply of water in the absence of a reservoirInfluence of climatic conditions

Horse horse breeding is not used in all farms. This method of keeping is possible only in the presence of large pastures and in areas with a warm climate.

Food

The basis of the diet of a herd of horses is grass. Top dressing is used only in case of extreme weather deterioration. Depending on the season, animals find food in different parts of the pasture:

In winter, the herd first grazes in remote areas and gradually moves to housing. In prolonged frosts, animals receive hay.
As the weather gets warmer, the herd settles into areas where the snow melts. And then - pastures near water bodies, on which alfalfa, dandelions, thistles or plantain grow.
In the heat, horses are transferred to the meadows. At the beginning of summer, grasses predominate in the diet, and in the second half of the season - shrubs and sedges.
In spring, herds feast on cereals and wormwood.

Each individual requires up to 20 kilograms of food daily.

Reproduction

When horses are kept in herds, several breeding methods are used:

Horse labor savingsProducer fatigueHigh fertility rate Cooking and manual Lower pregnancy rates

Mating method	Advantages	Disadvantages
Mowing (up to 30 mares per stallion)

Stallion stays strong	Additional costs needed to build special facilities

The dates of mating must be noted in the statements.

Foraging

After winter frosts and summer drought, horses lose weight. Therefore, in autumn and spring, the herd is actively fed. The feeding school is sent to the places of growth of sweet clover, fescue or alfalfa. Usually pastures with lush grass are located near the watering hole.

When there is a shortage of fresh vegetation, animals are supported with hay, given root crops and provided with the necessary amount of concentrates. Lick s alt is used as a mineral supplement.

Grazing herd with young stock

The young are left to graze with the broodstock. Such herds are sent to meadows or lowlands, where the grass is the most juicy. During feeding, mares need to drink plenty of fluids and a balanced, vitamin-rich diet. Upon reaching the age of 9 months, foals are weaned from mother's milk. Groups of different sexes are formed from the grown-up individuals. In order for the animals to get used to people, they are placed on bases along with old mares.

Optimal Breeds

Several breeds of horses are recommended for breeding. Don riding, Bashkir and Kabardian horses are considered optimal. Suitable for keeping at home are Yakut and Russian heavy-duty varieties, as well as hare.

Main differences between herds of wild horses

In nature, herds of untamed animals are not very common today. The leader in such groups is not always the male. Sometimes the wisest mare leads the herd.

In Mongolia, the Far East and northern China, populations of the Przewalski's horse can still be found. This is the only variety of wild horses that has survived to this day.

Mustangs live in America and parts of Asia. Secondarily feral animals gather in groups numbering a thousand heads. Several stallions become leaders.

Herds, as a way of breeding horses, are chosen in areas where such methods are traditional. In other regions, group keeping on pastures is organized if there are large land areas for walking.