FARM ANIMALS 49 



pasture, and also by worry caused by flies, absence 

 of shelter and lack of grooming. It thus comes 

 about that overworked horses accustomed to large 

 feeds of grain, when turned upon pasture without 

 grain for a rest period, are often in poorer condition 

 at the end of tnis period than when placed upon 

 the pasture. Some grain is desirable in nearly all 

 such cases. 



Silage has been quite extensively fed to horses 

 without bad results provided the material is in a 

 wholesome condition. Musty silage may cause 

 serious poisoning or death. In some localities 

 difficulty has been experienced in feeding horses 

 silage in winter on account of the ease with which 

 it freezes. It has been fed in varying quantities, 

 some feeders obtaining good results from the use 

 of 30 Ibs. per day. In the majority of cases, how- 

 ever, 10 to 12 Ibs. will be found sufficient, and even 

 then it must be in good condition, not musty nor 

 improperly fermented. Good silage appears to 

 be a perfectly safe and suitable forage for horses 

 when fed together with some leguminous, cereal, or 

 meadow hay. Silage when fed in this way re- 

 places a portion of the grain ration and also a part 

 of the roots which are usually fed to horses. 



Sorghum hay is about equal to corn fodder in 

 feeding value in a dry state, but somewhat supe- 

 rior in a green condition. It loses rapidly under 

 careless curing. Sorghum hay may be mixed 

 with alfalfa for the purpose of balancing the ration. 

 In general there appears to be little danger from 

 sorghum if it is fed with other coarse fodders. 

 Occasionally, however, as has recently been shown, 

 especially in the case of cattle, this forage plant 

 may at times contain prussic acid and is then a 

 deadly poison. 



