l66 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



been conducted in which various feeding stuffs have 

 been compared, and the oats theory has been over- 

 thrown. It is not so much the kind of concentrate, 

 but rather that the grain portion shall contain the 

 digestible nutrients in the best balance and that 

 they be of an easily digestible nature. 



Indian corn shares with oats popularity as a horse 

 food. Corn is a very concentrated food, is heating, 

 but deficient in muscle-forming elements. If fed 

 in combination with timothy or corn stover, too lit- 

 tle protein will be provided. Concentrates of a 

 nitrogenous nature, therefore, should be admitted to 

 the ration. Oats then may be used, or bran, or the 

 oil meals, indeed practically any commercial con- 

 centrated feed. Bran and oil meal are laxative, and 

 are particularly good when succulence otherwise is 

 not to be had. These may be given in small quan- 

 tities daily, or fed in larger quantities two or three 

 times a week. Both are extremely valuable articles 

 for horses and may be fed either dry or in mashes. 

 When fed as mash once a week, night is the best 

 time, preferably before a day of rest. 



Barley is a principal grain food for horses in many 

 parts of the world. In some of the great breeding 

 stables barley and oats are ground together in pro- 

 portions varying with the season and fed to stallions 

 and mares. Cottonseed is similar in its chemical 

 composition to linseed meal, but is more highly con- 

 centrated and contains more protein. It should be 

 fed with caution, one or two pounds a day, and 

 never to exceed three or four pounds. This concen- 

 trate is coming more and more into favor, but some 



