818 



EXPERiMENt STATION RECORD. 



feeding of draft horses made by Grandeau and his associates for the 

 Compagnie Gnu'rale de Voiturea of Paris, to compare the mixed ration 

 fed by the Compagnie Generale and the several ingredients composing 

 it. The results of the earlier experiments have been previously noted 

 (E. S. E., 0, p. 1018). In the present series the ration consisted of 

 so-called "maize cake" and oat straw. The cake was prepared from 

 starch factory and distillery waste and contained some potato and bar- 

 ley as well as maize refuse. It had been fed for a number of years and 

 was found to be very constant in composition. 



The experiments were made with 3 horses, 10, 12, and 9 years old, 

 weighing 478.3, 505.3, and 491.4 kg., respectively; and cover a period 

 of 13 months divided into periods of about a month duration. Ilorse 

 No. 2 met with an accident and was dropped out 5 months before the 

 conclusion of the trial. The experiment proper was preceded by a 

 preliminary test of 5 months, during which the transition was made 

 from the preceding ration to the one used in the experiment. 



The experiment includes periods of rest, walking, trotting, working 

 and walking, working and trotting, the work consisting in turning the 

 arm of a dynamometer of special construction a definite number of 

 times. Experiments were also made at moderate and severe work 

 drawing a cab. The amount fed was modified to suit each condition. 

 Tables are given showing the amount and composition of food con- 

 sumed, amount of water drunk, coefficients of digestibility, amount 

 and composition of the feces, and in a number of cases of the urine 

 produced, and variations in temperature and weight of each horse for 

 each day of each period. 



The average coefficients of digestibility of the rations under various 

 conditions of rest and work are given in the following table: 



Arermje coefficients of digestibility of ''maize cake" and straw by horses. 



In a number of cases the nitrogen balance was also determined, tak- 

 ing into account the nitrogen in the food, urine, feces, sweat, and 

 material removed in currying, as well as the nitrogen lost from the 

 feces while drying and in the material worn away from the hoofs. 



In the authors' discussion of the experiments the ration of maize 

 cake and straw is compared at length with the rations fed in previous 

 tests on the basis of its composition and fuel value and also upon the 

 basis of gain and loss in weight. 



