90 



HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION 



[Jan. 



Feeding Trials loith Hoi'ses. 

 Four horses belonging to the agricultural division of the 

 station were employed for the purpose. These horses did 

 hard farm work, which naturally varied somewhat in char- 

 acter and amount from time to time. 



Trial I. 



Object. — The object of the trial was to see if the horses 

 would eat Blomo readily, maintain their Aveight, and keep in 

 as good working condition as when fed their regular ration. 



Rations fed. — The ordinary ration, previous to the be- 

 ginning of the trial, consisted of 6 quarts of oats, 6 quarts 

 of corn, and what hay the animals would eat clean. The 

 trial ration consisted of 6 quarts of Blomo in place of 6 

 quarts of oats, 6 quarts of corn, and hay. The Blomo and oats 

 should have been compared pound for pound, but through 

 a misunderstanding they were fed quart for quart, so that 

 4.2 pounds of Blomo were fed against 6 pounds or more of 

 oats.i The horses were gradually placed on the Blomo ra- 

 tion. Three ate it readily, while the fourth refused more 

 or less of it at first, but eventually took the entire quantity 

 without objection. 



Duration of the Trial. — The trial began March 19 and 

 lasted until July 5. During this time all four horses were 

 kept constantly on the same ration, and in no case did they 

 fail to take the full quantity of Blomo daily. 



WeigJ/t and Condition of the Horses. — The horses were 

 weighed two mornings weekly before being fed or watered. 



The weight varied slightly from week to week, but it is 

 evident that the ration was sufficient to enable the animals 

 to keep in good condition and do the work required. 



' Unfortiinatelj', this department did not have the direct care of the animals, hence 

 could not closely supcrviae the details of the trial. 



