FEEDING AND CARING FOR HORSES 333 



the horse to foot lameness. However, the lack of weight and the small 

 size of his foot somewhat unfit the mule for heavy draft work in the 

 city, as he does not get a good hold on the pavements. 



Tho the mule will endure more neglect than the horse, good care and 

 feed will prove profitable. For feeding the mule the same feeds are 

 available as in the case of the horse, and the same principles apply in 

 suiting the feed to the size of the animal and the severity of the work 

 performed. 



533. Fattening horses. As the large markets demand draft horses in 

 high flesh, in certain districts their fattening has become an important in- 

 dustry. The horses are usually purchased in the fall after farm work 

 is over and gradually accustomed to a heavy grain ration, getting all 

 they will clean up when on full feed. At this time some of the heaviest 

 feeders will consume nearly twice as much as when at hard work, or 

 about 2 Ibs. of grain for every 100 Ibs. live weight. The chief concen- 

 trates used are corn and oats, often with moderate allowances of such 

 protein-rich feeds as wheat bran, linseed meal, or cottonseed meal added 

 to balance the ration. Clover or alfalfa hay is commonly fed, for these 

 hays are much superior to timothy hay for this purpose. In addition, 

 silage of good quality may be advantageously fed. At the Illinois 

 Station 20 a ration of 8.6 Ibs. corn, 8.6 Ibs. oats, 2.4 Ibs. wheat bran, 0.4 

 Ib. oil meal, and 13.7 Ibs. clover hay gave excellent results in fattening 

 horses. A most successful ration for 1,450-lb. horses at the Pennsylvania 

 Station 21 was 12.3 Ibs. shelled corn, 1.4 Ibs. cottonseed meal, 16.9 Ibs. 

 corn silage, and 10.5 Ibs. mixed hay. Horses thus fattened require about 

 the same amount of feed as fattening cattle for 100 Ibs. gain in weight. 



Formerly the horses were usually allowed no exercise, great care then 

 being necessary to avoid digestive troubles and to keep their legs from 

 becoming stocked. Now many feeders allow the horses to run in pad- 

 docks. Due to the forced feeding, surprising gains are often secured. 

 Instances are reported where horses have gained 4 Ibs. or even more 

 per head daily for periods of about 2 months. While at present horses 

 must be thus fattened to bring top prices, such rapid and excessive 

 fattening is of little benefit and may even be injurious. When put to 

 hard work, the horse quickly loses much of the soft flesh gained by such 

 forcing. 



534. Hints on fattening horses. Altho some feed the horses 5 or 6 

 times a day, others secure just as good results with 3 feeds. Water 

 should be supplied freely at least twice a day. Usually no feed is 

 administered between 5 or 6 o'clock at night and 6 the next morning. 

 Grooming and blanketing aid in producing a soft, shining coat, which 

 increases the selling price. (468-9) It is important to keep mangerfc and 

 feed boxes clean, and to see that the teeth and feet of the animals are 

 in good condition. (470-1) 



"Obrecht, 111. Bui. 141. al Cochel, Penn. Bui. 117. 



