HORSES AND MULES 341 



Corn is the cheapest horse feed known. More units of work 

 can be produced for less money with corn than with any other 

 grain. It is fed extensively to horses and mules and its use as 

 the basis of the ration is increasing. Liverymen maintain that 

 corn-fed horses cannot withstand the summer heat well. Corn 

 also lacks the proper bulk and is more likely than oats to cause 

 digestive disturbances when fed carelessly or unintelligently. 



FIG. 173. Strength and speed 



The broad, muscular breast, heavy muscles of the arm and forearm, large, well-supported 



knees, short cannons, strong fetlocks and pasterns, and large, sound feet, all indicate pulling 



power. The deep chest, long, lithe muscles, clean joints, long cannons, and long pasterns 



and tough feet indicate speed and endurance. (Photograph from Purdue University) 



A mixture of oats and corn is to be preferred to either grain 

 fed alone, unless the price of oats is too high. In that case, 

 corn may be supplemented with oil meal, cottonseed meal, wheat 

 bran, alfalfa, clover, or cowpeas. Wheat bran is used extensively 

 for horses and mules and is usually fed with corn or oats. Be- 

 cause of the high mineral and protein content of wheat bran, 

 it is very valuable for growing horses, but should not be fed in 



