Oats vs. other Grains 337 



that in changing the ration the amount and proportions 

 of the nutrients digested have remained the same. It 

 is probable that usually comparisons have been made 

 between oats and corn, and whenever this has been 

 done it is not necessary to refer the better effect of 

 the former to the existence of compounds having tonic 

 properties. The w^ell-knowni differences in the gen- 

 eral composition of the two grains Avill in part account 

 for the more satisfactory condition of the animal when 

 the oats are fed. With the liberal feeding of corn 

 there is a tendency towards the laying on of fat, and 

 a greater likelihood of imperfect digestion, because of 

 the high proportion of carbohydrates and the liability 

 of undesirable fermentations. It seems entirely prob- 

 able that if thorough comparison could be made be- 

 tween oats and the best grain mixtures which could 

 be suggested in the light of present knowledge, the 

 oats would not maintain so great a superiority over 

 other feeds for growing colts as is now generally at- 

 tributed to them. The few experiments which have 

 been made indicate that for producing rapid growth 

 oats were inferior to either a mixture of peas and 

 middlings, or to a mixture of middlings, gluten meal 

 and linseed meal; but these observations were not 

 carried far enough to determine the relative effect upon 

 the quality of the animal. 



Whatever may be the whole truth in this matter, 

 doubtless all necessary conditions for producing growth 

 and qualitj' in colts would be met by a ration of which 

 oats form a part. The following mixtures are sug- 

 gested as illustrative of good ones: 



