27 



In discussing the subject of alfalfa for horses, the California Station^ 

 says in effect that in regions where it is a staple crop the quantit}^ of 

 protein which can be supplied in green and cured alfalfa is so great 

 that much less grain is required than when the coarse fodder consists 

 of cereal haj's only. For the Pacific coast, where cereal hays replace 

 so largely those from meadow grasses, the station recommends a ration 

 of alfalfa hay with wheat hay or barley hay and grain. 



In a recent discussion of the problem of horse feeding under local 

 conditions. Director Stubbs,^ of the Louisiana stations, emphasizes the 

 value of cowpea vine ha}'. 



The outcome of the different experiments is in accord with the 

 observation of careful feeders, viz, that the various common coarse 

 fodders may be fed to horses as circumstances demand. Although 

 timothy hay is in man}^ regions regarded as the preferable coarse feed, 

 yet experience has shown that corn fodder, hay from wheat, barley, and 

 other cereal grains, and from clover, and alfalfa may be substituted for 

 it. That this is what might be expected is shown by a study of the com- 

 position of these feeding stuffs. As will be seen by reference to the 

 table above (p. 13), they resemble each other very closely in the char- 

 acter and amount of nutrients which they contain — alfalfa, clover, 

 and other leguminous hays being richer in protein than the cured 

 grasses and cereal forage. Straw is not much fed to horses in the 

 United States, but is a common feeding stuff in Europe. As shown by 

 its composition and digestibility (pp. 14, 41), it compares quite favor- 

 ably with other coarse fodders. The substitution of one coarse fodder 

 for another in a ration should always be made on the basis of compo- 

 sition and digestibility, rather than pound for pound. 



Very few tests have been made on the comparative value of differ- 

 ent uncured feeds or different sorts of pasturage in horse feeding, 

 though all the common forage crops are regarded as wholesome if 

 properly fed. In discussing green crops for horses, ^Lavalard says: 



Such feed is very dependent upon the fertilizer used for the crop, the method of 

 harvesting, and the condition of the animal fed. Green fodder does not contain 

 sufficient nutritive material to make it in any real sense a feeding stuff for horses 

 performing much work. The same may be said of certain plants which have been 

 much advertised from time to time, such as furze, couch grass [sacchaline] , etc. 



ROOTS AND TUBERS. 



Carrots, Swedish turnips or ruta-bagas, and other roots and tubers, 

 green vegetables, and fruits contain a high percentage of water and 

 small amounts of the different classes of nutrients. Generally speak- 

 ing, the percentage of crude fiber is smaller than in the green forage 

 crops; but since the proportion of nutritive material is small in com- 

 parison with the total bulk, they are ordinarily referred to as coarse 



"California Station Bui. 132. 



^Loc. cit. 



c Experiment Station Record, 12 (1900-1901), p. 4. 



