138 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



farms to give horses bran mashes at week ends. This 

 is useful, especially when the horses have had high 

 feeding through the week. It is not wise to mix ground 

 oats with a bran mash and feed at once, as the mash 

 travels through the system comparatively quickly and 

 may carry some of the rough hulls of the oats into the 

 bowels before they have got properly softened, possibly 

 causing colic. Boiled linseed, boiled beans, or boiled 

 barley may be used in the same way as bran mashes, 

 especially at times when the horse is casting its coat. 



Some of the best farmers have ceased to give horses 

 mashes at week ends, as they consider it better to give 

 them two to three tablespoonfuls per head daily of 

 linseed oil on the chop food. In this way there is less 

 risk than when the horse receives big doses of the 

 laxative food (bran mashes) at week ends only. 



Roots. Roots are very useful for keeping the bowels 

 in working order. Carrots are the most suitable roots 

 for horses, next come swedes. Potatoes are apt to 

 cause colic (flatulency) unless carefully and sparingly 

 fed. It is best to feed roots regularly to work-horses 

 to the extent of 3 to 10 Ibs. per head per day. 



Suitable Rations for Horses. 



The table on the opposite page shows typical daily 

 rations of concentrated foods 1 for farm-work horses which 

 weigh on an average between 1200 and 1300 Ibs. each, 

 keeping in mind the following "standard" with concen- 

 trated food: albuminoids, 12 to 16 per cent. ; fat, 4 to 5 

 per cent. ; fibre (not exceeding), 8 per cent. ; and 

 allowing I Ib. concentrated food for every roo Ibs. live 

 weight of horse. 



1 Farmers wishing to make up similar rations of concentrated 

 foods should refer to special table of analyses on p. 188. 



