200 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



gallon a day for each 100 pounds of live weight may be 

 given under fair conditions. 



The feeds most desirable for horses vary according to 

 condition of age, work, and locality. Oats in the grain is 

 the favorite food for horses both in America and Europe. 

 There is no likelihood of danger from overeating oats, 

 they are much relished, and from them the horseman looks 

 for greater activity than from most feeds. Dry ear corn is 

 popular in the corn-growing sections, especially in the South 

 and Central West, where hundreds of thousands of horses 

 see no other kind of grain. Experiments at the Ohio sta- 

 tion, conducted by Prof. Carmichael, show no important 

 difference in the feeding value of corn and oats, as fed work 

 horses under equal conditions. Barley is fed horses in some 

 parts of America, Europe, and northern Africa, and meets 

 with favor. Wheat and rye are too pasty for satisfactory 

 horse feed. Wheat bran has been fed mixed with oats and 

 corn, and gives good results. Corn meal is too heavy for a 

 horse feed, unless mixed with bran, oats or chaffed hay, 

 when it will do very well. What is known as chop feed for 

 horses in some sections consists of varying proportions of 

 oats and cracked or crushed corn, the percentage of one to 

 the other depending upon the value of each feed in the 

 market. As a rule, two thirds oats and one third corn is a 

 good proportion. Linseed meal is a most excellent feed to 

 be given in small amount once daily, as, for example, a half 

 pound a day. This is a fine appetizer, and tends to make 

 the skin mellow and the hair sleek and glossy. Condition 

 powders or prepared condimental stock foods are not to be 

 recommended. The linseed meal will largely serve the same 

 purpose and in fact is a popular conditioner. 



Of all the dry roughages, timothy hay in the East is 

 the leading favorite. It is usually free from dust and is 

 relished by the horse. Any well cured, sweet grass, how- 

 ever, will usually prove satisfactory horse roughage. Good 



