DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 57 



It is also unsafe to feed horses frozen silape on account of the dantrer of 

 colic. * * * 



To summarize, silajre is safe to feed to horses and mules only wIumi it is 

 made from fairly mature corn, properly stored in the silo. When it is prop- 

 erly stored and is not allowed to mold, no feed exceeds it as a cheap winter 

 ration. It is most valuahle for horses and nudes which are not at heavy 

 work, such as brood mares and work horses during the slack season. With 

 plenty of prain on the cornstallvs, horses will keep in }jo<»d condition on a 

 ration of 20 pounds of silase and 1(» jiounds of hay for each 1,(X)0 pounds of 

 live weight. 



PREPARATION OF FEEDS. 



Feed is prepared for any of the followin*; reasons: To render it 

 more easily eaten; to make it more digestible; to economize in 

 amount; to give it some new property; and to preserve it. We have 

 already spoken of the preparation of drying, and need not revert to 

 this again, as it only serves to preserve the different feeds. Drying 

 does, however, change some of the properties of feed, i. e., removes 

 the laxative tendency of most of them. 



The different grains are more easily eaten when ground, crushed, 

 or even boiled. Rye or wheat should never be given whole, and even 

 of corn it is found that there is less waste when ground, and, in 

 common with all other grains, it is more easily digested than when 

 fed whole. 



Hay and fodder are economized when cut in short pieces. Not 

 only will the horse eat the necessary quantity in a shorter time, but it 

 will be found that there is less waste, and the mastication of the 

 grains (whole or crushed) fed with them is insured. 



Reference has already been made to those horses that bolt their 

 feed, and we need only remark here that the consecjuences of such 

 ravenous eating may be prevented if the grains are fed with cut hay, 

 straw, or fodder. Long or uncut hay should also be fed, e\ en though 

 a certain quantity of hay or straw is cut and fed mixed with grain. 



One objection to feeding cut hay mixed with grotuid or crushed 

 grains, and wetted, must not be overlooked during the hot months. 

 Such feed is liable to undergo fermentation if not fed directly after 

 it is mixed; even the mixing trough, unless frequently scalded and 

 cleaned, becomes sour and enough of its scrai)ings are given with the 

 feed to produce flatulent (wind) colic. A small (juantitN' of salt 

 should always be mixed with such feed. Bad hay should never be 

 out simjily because it insures a greater consumption of it ; bad feeds 

 are dear at any price, and shoidd never be fed. 



The advantage of boiling roots has been mentioned. Not only 

 does this render them less liable to ]iroduce digestive disorders, but it 

 also makes them clean. Boiling or steaming grains is to be recom- 

 mended when the teeth are poor, or when the digestive organs are 

 weak. 



