DlVlalOX or AXIMAL nCSBAXDRy ^'.7 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The stablenuiii feeds all the horses, while the teamsters, under his supervision, 

 are responsible for the eare of their respeetive teams. The horses arc always watered 

 before meals and not after unless to merely wash out their mouths. During the experi- 

 ment, wliich lasted for four months, the rations were weighed every week and the 

 horses weighed monthly. 



In the feeding of the horse not only the animal's weight but also its individudlity 

 was recognized. In the latter connection especially, tery noticeable peculiarities 

 were observed, some horses of similar weights being much easier to feed than others. 

 The horse "Duke " is a very hard feeder at any time and i)articularly did he give 

 evidence of this when fed straw, oat sheaves, oats, and bran. The outline below will 

 give the amount fed the average horse per day. It will be noticed they were all fed 

 lightly in the belief that the idle horse should be limited to about half the feed given 

 wIkmi on regular work. Those working, however, were fed according to the nature of 

 the work. 



Group 1. — Straw, 0.\t Sheaves, Oats, and Brax. 



Morning. — Oat sheaf. 



Noon. — Oai > i gallon; bran, | gallon; oat straw, 3 to 5 pounds. 



Evening. — Oat sheaf. 



Note. — In this ration as in the others the horses took a long time to acquire a 

 taste for the straw. Neither did they appreciate the oat sheaves. After a time they 

 thrived on this ration but were never in as good a state of thrift as those fed on the 

 other rations. In the spring, however, after two weeks of good feeding on hay and 

 oats, before the heavy work started, they stood the work as well as the horses in the 

 other groups. 



Group 2. — Straw, Mixed Hay, Oats, axd Gjxouxd Flaxseed. 



Morning. — \ gallon oats; ground flaxseed, handful; hay, 3 to 6 pounds. 

 iVooji.— Oats, J gallon; ground flaxseed, handful; oat straw, 3 to 5 pounds. 

 Evening. — Oats, i gallon; ground flaxseed, haudful; hay, 3 to 6 pounds. 



Note. — The amount of flaxseed fed in this ration was about one-quarter gallon 

 per day. This ration being more expensive than the former naturally kept the horses 

 up in better condition, but care had to be exercised in giving only a small quantity, 

 of flaxseed as it is very laxative in its properties. 



Group 3. — Straw, Mixed Hay, Oats, and Brax. 



Morning. — Oats, I gallon; bran, \ gallon; hay, 3 to G pounds. 

 Noon. — Oats, ^ gallon; bran, \ gallon; oat straw, 3 to 5 pounds. 

 Evening. — Oats, 4 gallon; bran, ] gallon; hay, 3 to G pounds. 



Note. — Of all the rations, this last gave the best satisfaction. The hay seemed' 

 to give better results than oat sheaves in No. 1, while the bran is an ideal feed t» mix 

 with oats, as contrasted with ilax seed in No. 2. ^ 



Group 4. — Straw, Alfalfa Hay, Oats, and Brax. 



Morning. — Oats, ;} gallon; bran, } gallon; alfalfa hay, 2 to 5 pounds. 

 Noon. — Oats, i gallon; bran, ] gallon; straw, 3 to 5 pounds. 

 Evening. — Oats, i gallon; bran, :} gallon; alfalfa hay, 2 to 5 pounds. 



Note. — It was found that alfalfa hay is slightly laxative and conse<]uently would 

 not be advisable for drivers or horses at very liard work. It might be used to good 

 advantage with horses at slow, steady work or under such conditions as outlined in 

 the experiment above. 



IG— 27 



Indian IIeai> 



