70 EXPERIMENT STATKJN KECORD. 



A digest of recent experiments on horse feeding, V. V. I.AxriWdRTHY ( U. 8. 

 Dipt. Ayr., 0(1ici' of Krjxrliiieid Shitionn Bui. 1..'5, pp. 75). — The priiiciiiies <if nutri- 

 tion with oapecial reference to liorses are discussed as well as the comparative value 

 of feediiif^ stuffs, methods of feeiling, digestibility oi feeding stuffs, watering, muscu- 

 lar work and its effect on food nHjuireiuents, and related toi)ics, the attempt being 

 made to sununarize available information on the subject, especially that afforded by 

 the studies carried on at the experiment stations in the United States. Datii were 

 also collecte<l showing the rations fed by express companies, cab companies, and 

 others using large numbers of horses, and these rations are compared with those fed 

 the farm horses of the experiment stations, army horses, etc. 



Considering the data as a whole, the ratio l)y weight of coarse fodder or bulky 

 feed to concentrated feed in the ordinary ration was found to be al)out 1:1. Crude 

 fil)er may perha])S be fairly considered as the characteristic constituent of coarse 

 fodder. The ratio of crude fiber to protein in the average of a large number of 

 American rations was found to be about 2:1. 



From the available information it seems fair to conclude that, theoretically at 

 least, any sufticient and rational mixture of wholesome grains, by-products, roots, 

 and forage crops, green and cured, may be used to make up a ration, though there 

 is a very general prejudice in favor of oats and hay, corn and hay or corn fodder, 

 and barley and hay (frequently that made from cereal grains), the first-named 

 ration being perhaps that most commonly regarded as satisfactory for horses. A 

 corn ration is A^ery commonly fed in the middle West and Southern United States — 

 that is, in the corn-producing belt. The barley ration is quite characteristic of the 

 Pacific coast region. In the semiari<l regions of the United States Kafir corn and 

 alfalfa have proved to be of great value, owing to their drought-resisting fjualities. 

 Both crops have been found useful for horse feeding. Of the (wo alfalfa has been 

 used much more commonly, and has given very satisfactory results. 



Horses require a considerable amount of water daily, the quantity varying with 

 different seasons of the year, the amount of work performed, etc. The time of 

 watering, whether before or after feeding, is a matter of little importance, and, gen- 

 erally speaking, may be regulated to suit the convenience of the feeder. Horses 

 become used to either method of watering, and irregularity should be avoided, as 

 sudden changes are apt to prove disturbing. 



Judging by the average results, representing the practice of a large number of 

 successful American feeders, and also the results of many tests at the experiment 

 stations in different jjarts of the United States, horses with light work consume on 

 an average a ration furnishing per day 0.99 pound of digestible protein and 14,890 

 calories of energy per 1,000 pounds live weight. Similar values for horses at moder- 

 ate work are 1.49 pounds digestible protein and 22,710 calories. 



Generally speaking, all these average values are less than those called for by the 

 commonly accepted German feeding standards for horses performing the same 

 amounts of work, yet from what is known regarding the American horses it seems 

 fair to say that they were well fed. 



Generally speaking, horses digest their feed, and especially the nitrogen-free 

 extract and crude fiber in it, less thoroughly than ruminants. 



Principles of horse feeding, C. F. Langworthy ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmer.^^ Bui. 

 170, pp. 4-^).— The general principles of feeding are discussed with special reference 

 to horses, and the results of recent experimental Avork, particularly that carried on 

 at the experiment stations of the United States are summarized. The material in 

 its present form is very largely an abridgment of the bulletin of the Office of Experi- 

 ment Stations noted aljove. 



Green food for farm horses {Agr. Gaz. New South Wales, 14 [1903), No. 1, pp. 

 87, 88). — The value of green feed for farm horses is insisted upon, alfalfa and sainfoin 

 being considered the most useful. Methods of feeding green crops are briefly 

 discussed. 



