12 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



were compelled to feed outs containing tares and leguminous seeds, 

 some of which were those of species of Lath yrus. Symptoms of Lathy- 

 rus poisoning were noted in a number of horses. The attacks Avere 

 frequentl}'^ severe and sometimes fatal. When the oats were properly 

 cleaned this trouble was entirely obviated. Cleaning also increases the 

 density of the oats ])y removing mineral matter and dust, which ma}' 

 sometimes induce attacks of intestinal obstruction, colic, etc. 



Contrary to the opinion of some experts, the writer believes it is 

 not necessary to grind grain for horses. This is especially true in the 

 case of oats. It does not appear that the advantages gained by grind- 

 ing are siifhcient to cover the cost of the operation. In some of our 

 earlier experiments, where ground grain was fed, it was noticed after 

 a few months that the horses preferred to crush it themselves. Of 

 course this does not refer to old horges. They can be fed ground 

 grain to advantage. 



For the past four or live years we have chopped coarse fodders, 

 using a ration of equal parts of hay and straw, and have found this 

 practice the most profitable for several reasons: Straw may thus be 

 made to form an integral part of the ration, and the proportion of hav 

 and straw may be accuratel}' regulated. Furthermor(% horses waste 

 nnich less of such fodder, especially if some material other than straw 

 is used for bedding. Experiments are now in progress under the 

 author's direction with whole and chopped fodders, to study the com- 

 parative cost, the most favorable conditions, and the nutritive value 

 of chopped fodder. As yet somewhat contradictory results have been 

 obtained and the experiments must be continued l)efore definite con- 

 clusions can be drawn. It ma}' be said with certainty, however, that 

 the feeding of chopped fodder has brought about a considerable sav- 

 ing and permitted greater uniformity than was previously the case in 

 our experiments. 



GRAIN FEED FOR HORSES. 



In all that has been said above only oats, hay, and straw have been 

 considered, and there are many who maintain that a ration nuist be 

 made of these articles, especially for army horses. In Europe this 

 prejudice is deep seated. Even if other grains are used for draft 

 horses, oats are regarded as indispensable for saddle horses, carriage 

 horses, etc. Of course in America corn is abundant and ideas and 

 practice concerning its use are different from those which i)revail in 

 Europe. 



Many analyses, made in connection witli our investigations extend- 

 ing over 30 years, have shown that native French oats and foreign 

 oats, with few exceptions, contain about 10 per cent of protein and 

 this value is used in all our calculations. Smaller variations have been 

 observed in the fat and carbohydrate content of oats, and 4.7 per cent 



