HORSES I 63 I 



experimental group, and all the near-side horses another group. In the 

 experiments exact weights of food were distributed to the different groups. 



In some series a preliminary experiment was made to ascertain whether 

 the groups were equivalent, but this was unnecessry in most cases, the equi- 

 valence of the groups being known beforehand. 



The work done by a horse cannot be exactly determined either in agri- 

 cultural practice or in practical feeding experiments but it can be assumed to 

 be proportional to the nutritive value of the food administered, which is 

 indicated by the change in the live weight of the animals. Consequently 

 the experimental results should be determined from the variations of the 

 live weight of the horses. In order to obtain satisfactory results by means 

 of weighings, all these should be made at the same time of day. 



In some experiments the weighing was made regularly at midday, 

 after feeding and before yoking, in others after the return at midday but 

 before feeding. Sufficiently exact results were thus obtained. 



The ration was fixed according to the work to be done, in such a 

 manner as to prevent an emaciation of the animals in a period of heavy 

 work, and an increase of weight in a period of light work. 



The following results were given by the different foods. 



I. Barley and oats. — In some previous experiments with cows the writer 

 using Keli^ner's starch value, has estimated the forage value of 100 kgs. 

 of barley at 100 forage units and that of 100 kgs of oats at 84 units. Thus 

 I kg. of barley corresponds with about 1.2 kgs of oats. 



The present experiments (November 1909 to December 1913) were 

 intended to determine whether this ratio is also true for horses. Barle}'- 

 and oats, of a quality a little inferior to the average were given in a ration 

 of I : 1.2. The daily ration contained on an average 4 kgs. (8.8 lbs.), of 

 barley and 5 kgs. (11 lbs.) of oats. There were five experiments lasting from 

 49 to 77 days, and there were 3 to 8 animals in each group. 



The results show that i kg. of barley can easily replace 1.2 kg. of oats 

 in the feeding of draught horses. Barle}^ did not prove an unsuitable food 

 for horses, neither did it diminish their working power. 



II. Oats and ivheat bran. — Experiments have shown (in accordance 

 with KEu.ner's observations) that wheat bran is of little value for fatten- 

 ing pigs but an excellent food for milk production. 



The writer's experiments were made to determine whether bran had 

 the same effect on horses as on cows, or as on pigs. For this purpose it 

 was considered opportune to compare it with oats. On an average 2.56 

 kgs. (5.6 lbs.) of oats or 2.78 kgs. (6.1 lbs.) of bran were given. The oats 

 ration contained 2.15 and the bran ration 2.21 forage units. Six experi- 

 ments were made lasting 28 to 69 days, and there were three to eight 

 animals in each group. 



The wheat bran, which is richer in forage units, also produced a rather 

 greater increase in the live weight of the animals, from which the conclusion 

 is drawn that the action of bran on horses is .similar to that on cows. 



III. Oats and maize. — The forage values of oats and maize were to 

 be compared, and for this purpose they were emploj^ed in the ratio of 



