Feeds for the Horse. 



285 



may be watered before, after, or during meals without interfering 

 with the digestion or the absorption of the food they eat. All 

 methods are equally good, tho circumstances may favor one over the 

 other. A horse long deprived of water, or having undergone severe 

 exertion, should be watered before getting his feed. An animal ac- 

 customed to a certain order of watering should not be changed to 

 another order, for such change diminishes the appetite. Horses 

 drink the greatest amount of water when it is given after they have 

 been fed, and the least when it is supplied before they are fed. The 

 excretion of urine is directly proportional to the amount of water 

 consumed, while the composition of the feces is not so affected. The 

 weight of the horse varies with the amount of water drank. Tangl 

 shows that the only important point in this whole matter, about 

 which there has been so much discussion and dogmatic assertion, 

 is to adopt a reasonable, convenient system of watering and then 

 rigidly adhere to it. 



In making provisions for water from 10 to 12 gallons, or about 100 

 Ibs., should be allowed for each horse. 



453. Feed consumed yearly. Only a limited amount of data are 

 available relating to the total annual feed consumption of horses. 

 At the New Hampshire Station 1 Burkett recorded all feed eaten, 

 water drank, and hours of work performed by five farm horses dur- 

 ing two years, with the results shown in the following table: 



Feed and water consumed and work done by five farm horses during two 



years. 



It is shown that each horse consumed about 13.6 Ibs. of grain 

 daily, while the average daily consumption of roughage was 10 Ibs. 



1 Bui. 82. 



