Part III 

 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



CHAPTER XVIII 



FEEDING AND CARE OF HORSES 



I, Factors Influencing the Work Done by Horses 



While practically every farmer has horses or mules to perform work 

 on the farm, comparatively few have large numbers. Perhaps for this 

 reason, most of us do not realize the true rank of the horse industry 

 in this country. The 1910 census shows that more than 27,000,000 

 horses and mules, valued at over $3,000,000,000, were owned in the 

 United States. Indeed, the value of these animals is greater than that 

 of all the dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs combined. 



To feed these work animals costs over $2,000,000,000 each year. Yet 

 the scientific and economical feeding of this class of live stock usually 

 receives scant attention. ]\Iany a farmer, for example, will carefully 

 determine which feeds furnish most cheaply a well-balanced ration for 

 his dairy cows. But he will continue to feed his horses the usual ration 

 in his locality, such as oats and timothy hay, no matter how expensive 

 these feeds may be. As is shown in Chapter XIX, by careful selection 

 of feeds for horses, it is often possible to save one-third of the feed bill, 

 with no injury, and in some cases even a benefit to the animals. 



Before a detailed study of feeds for horses and of the methods of 

 feeding and care is begun, we will briefly consider the factors which 

 influence the work they perform. Since 83 per ct. of our work animals 

 are horses, the following discussions usually treat of the horse. How- 

 ever, the same feeds may be used for mules and the same principles of 

 feeding and care applied. 



Work done by horses. — In measuring work, the units used are the 

 foot-pound and the foot-ton. A foot-pound is the amount of work done 

 in lifting one pound one foot against the force of gravity ; and a foot- 

 ton the amount done in lifting one ton one foot against gravity. The 

 rate at which work is performed is measured in terms of horse-power. 

 A horse-power is the power required to lift 33,000 lbs. at the rate of 1 



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