FARM ANIMALS 33 



is highly nitrogenous and has been found to be a 

 very effective feed for the production of beef, milk, 

 and pork. When fed in too large quantities with- 

 out suitable roughage it has been found to be more 

 or less injurious or poisonous. For that reason it 

 is recommended by some authorities that cotton 

 seed meal be not used as a feed for horses, especial- 

 ly for brood mares. In New Hampshire it was 

 found that at first horses did not like cotton seed 

 meal and refused to eat it. Gradually, however, 

 they acquired a taste for it and it proved to be one 

 of the cheapest grain rations when compared with 

 other rations containing other grains. In North 

 Carolina it was found that from two to four pounds 

 of cotton seed meal could safely be fed to horses 

 at work. In some cases horses gained considerably 

 when at hard work on the ration containing cotton 

 seed meal. This substance may be used to replace 

 a corresponding amount of other grains in the 

 ration with an advantage in the amount of work 

 performed by the horses and with economy in the 

 feed. 



Rye. This grain, though not raised in large 

 quantities, may be safely fed to horses if convenient 

 and if the grain is in a clean condition. The oil 

 contained in rye is perhaps less easily digested 

 than that of oats and in general rye cannot be con- 

 sidered as equal to oats as a grain ration for horses. 

 Nevertheless rye may be used to replace some of 

 the oats in the ration. It is usually recommended 

 that rye be scalded before using and that horses 

 be gradually accustomed to it. As is generally 

 known rye is sometimes attacked by ergot. If 

 infested with this disease it should be fed very 

 sparingly since horses may ultimately become af- 

 fected by eating ergot. In some of Lavalard's ex- 



