238 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



When corn forms a large part of the concentrate allowance, the ration 

 should be balanced by concentrates or roughages rich in protein and 

 mineral matter, in which this grain is deficient. AVith legume hay, 

 which supplies the lacking protein and ash, for roughage, com may be 

 successfully fed as the only concentrate to mature horses at general 

 farm work. Such an unbalanced ration as corn and timothy or 

 prairie hay, all feeds low in protein, is not satisfactorj-. This is shown 

 by the following results secured at the Kansas Station ^ with 1,150-lb. 

 artillery horses, performing more severe labor than the average farm 

 horse. 



Corn and carbonaceous hay requires supplement 



In winter, when the weather was cold and the work moderate, 

 there was no apparent difference between the horses in Lots I and II. 

 However, as the weather grew warmer and the w^ork more severe, the 

 horses in Lot II, fed the unbalanced ration of corn and prairie hay, lost 

 weight, tho their endurance, wind and spirit were not injured. The 

 well-balanced ration fed Lot III was fully as satisfactory as the oat 

 ration and cheaper than even the straight com ration. Similar re- 

 sults were secured in France with 17,000 army horses. Tho the 

 officers were at first prejudiced against corn, they finally had to 

 admit that when it formed a large part of the concentrates the horses 

 showed as much energy and vigor as those fed oats, with no more 

 sickness. The objections often raised that horses fed corn lack nerve 

 and action, sweat easily, and wear out earlier are probably due to 

 feeding too heavy an allowance of this grain or failure to balance the 

 ration properly. 



Thruout the corn belt the grain is usually fed on the cob or shelled. 

 Ear corn is safer to feed than shelled for it keeps better, and the 

 horse eats it more slowly, chewing it more thoroly. If corn is ground 

 for horses with poor teeth or those working long hours, it should be 

 ground coarsely, for fine meal forms a mass in the stomach which is 



iMcCampbell, Kan. Bui. 186. 



