FARM ANIMALS 35 



or itch after long periods of feeding similar to the 

 results produced by buckwheat. 



Buckwheat. In this country buckwheat is 

 cultivated on an extensive scale only in a few 

 regions, particularly in New York. It, therefore, 

 is not used as a general horse feed. In various 

 parts of Europe buckwheat has been used to a 

 limited extent to replace oats as a part of the grain 

 ration. The maximum daily ration may be placed 

 at about four to six pounds. Buckwheat is not as 

 readily digested as oats and has the further dis- 

 advantage that it may become pasty and somewhat 

 unpalatable during mastication. It may be fed, 

 however, both whole and ground, particularly 

 in the form of middlings and bran since the flour 

 is ordinarily used as human food. 



Rice. On account of the recent extensive 

 cultivation of rice in the southern states, par- 

 ticularly Louisiana and Texas, this cereal and 

 some of the cheaper milling products from it have 

 been tested quite extensively as stock food. In a 

 number of tests it has proved a valuable feed for 

 both horses and mules. It may be fed whole or 

 preferably in the form of rice bran, rice polish or 

 some other milling product. The composition of 

 rice is such that it may be used as a substitute for 

 other nitrogenous grains without changing the 

 amount, but not all horses take to rice at once 

 without previous experience. 



Kafir Corn. This grain, as is well known, is 

 grown extensively, particularly in the dry regions 

 along the northwestern border of the cotton belt. 

 In Kansas and Oklahoma it has been fed to horses 

 and mules with good results. Kafir corn is a 

 carbonaceous grain and has a very similar com- 

 position to corn. It may, therefore, be used 



