64 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



Time of Feeding. Quite satisfactory results have been se- 

 cured by feeding the grain in three equal feeds and by giving one- 

 half the hay at night, the other half being divided between the 

 morning and noon feeds. 



On idle days the grain ration should be reduced one-half. 

 Many cases of Azoturia are undoubtedly caused by high feeding 

 when horses are idle. 



Comparative Value of Grains. From the tables giving the 

 percentage composition of the various food stuffs, it will be readily 

 seen that the cereal grains resemble each other quite closely in com- 

 position; all are characterized by fairly low water content, that is, 

 they are dry and contain a considerable amount of protein and 

 nitrogen-free extract or carbohydrates. The superiority of one grain 

 over another must, therefore, depend on some factor other than com- 

 position. Some cereals are much more palatable to some animals 

 than are others; some are more digestible under certain conditions 

 than are others; some, owing to their light weight, are much safer 

 to feed to certain animals than others. 



Oats. Oats undoubtedly possess a flavor that makes them pala- 

 table and a favorite food with horses. On account of this palatabil- 

 ity and the fact that they are readily digested by horses, makes them 

 a favorite food for horses in America. They are considered the 

 safest cereal grain to feed under the various conditions which the 

 various classes of horses are fed in this country. With most horses 

 a serious mistake in feeding as to quantity would cause no serious 

 results, which can hardly be said of any other grain. While oats 

 are so thoroughly relished by horses, comparatively few would eat 

 enough to cause serious injury; even, however, if they have an op- 

 portunity to eat all they desire. Old oats seem to be somewhat more 

 digestible than new oats, and are therefore preferred by most feeders. 



Barley. Barley is sometimes fed to horses, although it is not 

 relished as well as oats or corn. The kernels of barley seem to be too 

 hard to suit most horses ; grinding or soaking sometimes causes them 

 to be eaten more readily. Barley may be fed whole to horses having 

 sound teeth that are not required to do severe work. As barley when 

 ground forms a pasty mass when mixed with the saliva, it is usually 

 more satisfactory to mix a little bran or other coarse material with 

 it. (F. B. 170.) 



Commercial By-Products. The various meals and cakes rich 

 in gluten materials generally speaking are commercial by-products, 

 as cotton-seed meal or cotton-seed cake and linseed meal. These are 

 by-products in the manufacture of oils from cotton-seed and from 

 linseed. As it comes from the mills it is in the form of hard cakes 

 and when ground it becomes meal. Cotton-seed meal, while very 

 rich in protein, is not a popular feed for horses ; a little cotton-seed 

 meal mixed with other ground feeds is often satisfactorily fed, par- 

 ticularly if the horses are also given some succulent food ; as the ef- 

 fect of cotton-seed meal is constipating, it should be fed with caution, 

 except when fed in connection with foods that are more or less suc- 

 culent. Linseed meal on the contrary acts as a laxative, and is par- 

 ticularly prized as a horse food when the appearance of the coat is 



