Feeding Farm Animals 203 



to provide a balanced ration is not by concentrates, but by wheat or 

 other grain straw, and let the cows eat all they care for. This is 

 very cheap and helps to balance a ration with green or dry alfalfa 

 hay, is usually cheap, and is iine for cows. Both are much less ex- 

 pensive than concentrates. 



Chopping Hay for Horses. 



What sai'iiig )iuiy be iiiadc by cliot^ping all oat liay ivlicn fed to 

 horses? 



There is no particular saving in chopping liay unless the horses 

 are worked very hard and for very long hours, as is often the case 

 with express horses in the cities, or unless the power for cutting is 

 very cheap and feed high. The idea is that, except in unusual cases 

 as above mentioned, the horses can do their own grinding cheaper 

 than it can be done by power. Somewhat less hay is wasted when 

 fed cut than when fed long, but if they are not fed too much long 

 hay they will waste very little. 



Grain for Horses. 



What is the best formula for feeding njork horses zvith oat hay, 

 alfalfa, barley (crushed) and corn as rations? 



Feed one-half oat hay and one-half alfalfa hay, about 1 to 1^ 

 pounds per day for each 100 pounds live weight of the horse. Add 

 to this from ^ to 1 pound of rolled barley or corn for each 100 

 pounds live weight. If the corn is on the cob, four-fifths of its weight 

 is corn; that is to say, 5 pounds of corn on the cob has 4 pounds 

 of grain. 



Feeding Cut Alfalfa Hay. 



Would alfalfa hay, cut, say, from one-half to three inches in length 

 be better than whole hay for hogs, cattle and horses, and if it is better, 

 should it be fed wet or dry? 



Cattle and horses do much better when fed chopped alfalfa hay 

 than when fed whole hay. They can eat the required amount in much 

 less time and with less exertion. For cattle and horses the hay should 

 be cut about one inch long and fed dry. There is no advantage in 

 chopping alfalfa hay for hogs unless it is mixed with ground grain and 

 made into slop. — L. P. Denny. 



Storing Cut Alfalfa Hay. 



We are planning on cutting our next season's crop of alfalfa zvith 

 a feed cutter and storing it in a barn for winter feeding. 



The hay must, of course, be thoroughly cured, because of the great 

 danger of heating in a tight mass. A. Balfour says: "I have been 

 cutting alfalfa into a barn for two seasons. It is absolutely necessary 

 to have the sides and floor tight, and it is easier to feed it if it is in 

 a loft. The hay is best stacked first, and must be thoroughly cured." 



