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Reading-Course for Farmers. 



least cost, and is universally palatable. While conceding that corn is 

 not equal to oats as a grain for the horse, nevertheless, because of its 

 low cost and high feeding value, this grain will be extensively used 

 when large numbers of horses must be economically maintained. Corn 

 contains large quantities of nitrogen-free extract, and when fed exclu- 

 sively is too fattening. If fed in too large quantities it produces digestive 

 disorders. Corn also lacks a sufificient amount of mineral matter and 

 protein for the proper development of young animals. It may be fed 

 whole to the horse, but generally it is ground or chopped and mixed 

 with other grains. 



Ground corn and 

 oats mixed half and 

 half make a very good 

 grain ration for the 

 horse when the cost 

 will permit. The bulk 

 of the oats overcomes, 

 in a large measure, 

 the objectionable fea- 

 tures of the corn, 

 while the corn, with 

 its large amount of 

 easily digestible mater- 

 ials, supplies the ration 

 with much energy. 



Barley, rye and 

 wheat. — Each of these 

 grains is sometimes fed 

 to the horse. The 

 question of their use' 

 depends largely upon 

 their market price. 



Usually they are worth more for other purposes. Wheat espec- 

 ially is worth more for milling. Wheat has, however, been fed to the 

 horse with varying success, depending largely on the feeder and the 

 method of feeding it. 



Barley is not fed to horses in the East to any great extent because 

 of its demand for malting, but on the Pacific coast it is extensively used 

 for feeding horses at all kinds of work. When the horse's teeth are good 

 and the labor not severe, barley may be fed whole. Ground barley 



Fig. 



lo.- 



-Percheron- Belgian cross geldings. 

 4,000 pounds 



Weight, 



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