ANIMAL PRODUCTION. S85 



digestible nutrients 1.72 lbs. protein, 0.667 lb. fat, 10.5 lbs. carbohydrates, the nutri- 

 tive ratio being 1:7. Similar values for the ration made up of 15 lbs. alfalfa hay and 

 12 lbs. of oats were protein 0.299 lb., fat 0.519 11)., aii<l carbohydrates 10.93 lbs., 

 the nutritive ratio being 1:4.4. As noted l)y the author, these values are considera- 

 bly below the amounts called for by AVolff's standard for a horse doing heavy work. 



The diuretic effect of alfalfa hay was studied with 2 horses in a test covering 60 

 days. Each horse was fed 15 lbs. of oats; in addition one was given 25 ll)s. of alfalfa 

 hay, the other a like amount of timothy. The rations were reversed every 10 days. 

 The attempt was made to collect all the urine, and the results include only the days 

 on which this was successfully accomplished. On the timothy ration the average 

 amount of water consumed per horse was 81.92 ll)s. per day, the average daily 

 excretion of urine 10.4 lbs. Corresiwinding values for the alfalfa ration were 90.76 

 lbs. and 27. 26 lbs. This confirms the fact ( )b.served at the station that alfalfa increases 

 the amount of urine. The test was discussed with especial reference to the effect of 

 early, medium, and late cut first crop alfalfa. It appeared, according to the author, 

 that the early cut alfalfa hay caused the greatest excretion of urine and the late cut 

 alfalfa the least, although the consumption of water did not vary in the same way. 

 The greater consumption of water when horses are fed alfalfa resulted in a greater 

 elimination by the kidneys, "but we have no evidence that this greater elimination 

 is in any way detrimental to the health of horses." That the amount of water in 

 the feeding stuffs did not cause the increased amount of urine is shown by the fact 

 that the timothy hay contained 10.7 per cent and the alfalfa hay from 9.64 to 10.53 

 per cent. The specific gravity of the urine on the alfalfa ration was greater than 

 that on the timothy ration, as was also the nitrogen excreted. The author calculates 

 the balance of income and outgo of nitrogen, i. e., the metabolism of this element. 



Considering the tests as a whole the author discusses the comparative value of oats 

 and a mixture of bran and shorts. In his opinion "it is evident, from a study of the 

 experiments during 4 periods of which bran and shorts were used and during 1 when 

 oats made up the grain ration, that bran and shorts may be substituted for the oats 

 whenever the horses are fed alfalfa or timothy." 



WTiat is a maintenance ration for a horse ? F. E. Emeky ( Wijoming Sta. Itpt. 1902, 

 pp. 26-31). — A feeding test made with 4 farm horses required to perform light work 

 showed that they maintained their weight on an average daily ration of 13.5 lbs. 

 good alfalfa hay. The horses were allowed free access to water and a pile of oat 

 straw, but were fed no grain. The amount of straw eaten was not recorded. In a 

 second test made with 2 horses it was found that weight was maintained on an aver- 

 age daily ration of 13.75 lbs. alfalfa hay and 2.25 lbs. oat straw per 1,000 lbs. live 

 weight. It was calculated that this ration would furnish 1.85 lbs. protein, 0.14 lb. 

 fat, and 6.27 lbs. nitrogen-free extract, the nutritive ratio 1)eing 1:3.5. As pointed 

 out, this ration furnishes more protein and less carbohydrates and fat, and has a 

 narrower nutritive ratio, than is called for by Wolff's standard. 



Maintenance ration for driving horse, F. E. Emery ( Wyoming Sta. lipt. 1902, pp. 

 41, 42). — In a test made with a driving horse required to- perform a moderate 

 amount of work it was found that his weight — 1,100 to 1,200 lbs. — was maintained on 

 a ration of 21.25 lbs. alfalfa hay and 3.4 lbs. oat straw, or 17.71 and 2.83 lbs., respec- 

 tively, per 1,000 lbs. live weight. In this test the horse was driven daily some 6 

 miles at a pace which it is stated was well up to the limit of his road gait. The 

 author calculates that this ration will furnish 2.38 lbs. protein, 1.8 lbs. fat, and 8.22 

 lbs. carbohydrates per 1,000 lbs. live weight, the nutritive ratio being 1:3.6. It is 

 noted l)y the author that the amount of protein is greater, the amount of fat and 

 carbohydrates less, and the nutritive ratio narrower, than is called for by "Wolff's 

 standard for a horse at light work. 



The breakage of eggs, H. Faber ( Ugesh: Landm., 47 {1902), No. 14, pp- 161- 

 164). — Investigations showed that the relative breakage in different months of Danish 

 shipped to the English market, on the l)asis of an average breakage of a hun- 



