96 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Soaking 

 maize. 



Maize in 

 mixtures. 



Addition 

 of chaff. 



elapsed after feeding. When it is impossible to crush and the animal is 

 unaccustomed to it the grain may be soaked until it is soft or preferably 

 boiled. It is not however advisable, at any rate in a temperate climate, 

 to feed horses required for fast work on cooked rations, although 

 this means of preparation may be occasionally taken advantage of to 

 tempt the appetite of the delicate feeder and such as may be suffering 

 from overwork or are convalescent from disease. In England maize is 

 usually and most advantageously fed in mixtures which contain varying 

 proportions of oats and beans or peas in addition, but some large horse- 

 owning companies feed on maize only and find it satisfactory. The 

 admixture of chaff" is particularly called for in such rations owing to the 

 paramount necessity for thorough mastication. 



When fed as a whole ration the same quantity as of oats may be given. 



Barley. 



A general Though not generally used in England barley is a very good horse 

 food in the food and is in very general use, both in and out of the Service, everywhere 



east of Gibraltar, constituting in many places the majority of, and in 



some, the entire grain ration. 



Characteristics of Barley. 



The grain should be plump and short, quite hard, with a thin wrinkled 

 skin and small fine but not shrunken ends ; its colour should generally be 

 a pale golden and it should be free from any distinctive odour. Specimens 

 grown in hot countries are generally somewhat smaller than those from 

 temperate climates. Barley is sold by the quarter and should weigh about 

 54 pounds per bushel. 



Feeding Barley. 



In the East this grain is a very general horse food and is some- 

 times given without crushing or other preparation, in which state, 

 however, the toughness and indigestibility of its husk is such, that it 

 can only be consumed with impunity by animals native to the country 

 and not always even by them. For all others it must be prepared by 

 crushing, parching or boiling, or it rapidly gives rise to indigestion and 

 colic. When suitably prepared, however, it may be fed as a whole ration 

 if necessary, and it forms a large proportion of the Service issues in the 

 Mediterranean, north of India, China, Egypt and other eastern stations. 



Crushing barley is a matter which requires some care, for the husk is 

 so extremely tough that it will successfully resist the pressure of a roller 



East. 



Appear- 

 ance. 



Weight. 



Digesti- 

 biUty of 

 barley. 



Crushing 

 barley. 



