II. THE NUTRITION OF HORSES. 



J. 15. LIXDSKV AND P. H. SMITH. 



A relatively large luunber of experinienls upon the scientilic feed- 

 ing of horses have been undertaken at different times, cliiefiy by 

 European investigators, in order to ascertain not only the most eco- 

 nomical and satisfactor)' feed stutTs, but also to determine the amount, 

 kind and proportions of the several nutrients needed to produce a 

 given amount of work uiieler a variety of conditions. ( )f late a 

 number of American experiment stations have devoted considerable 

 attention to the problem, more particularly with reference to the 

 most satisfactory and economical combinations of different coarse 

 fodders and concentrated feeds for farm horses. 



A. Concentrates. Oats may be considered par 

 Feeds Suitable excellence the most satisfactory concentrate for 

 for Horses. horses and are largely fed in the North ; their rela- 

 tively high cost is tiie only objection to their use. 

 Corn is very generally used in the South and West, either shelled or 

 on the ear, while barley is a staple food for horses on the Pacific 

 slope. Considerable so called feed barley is offered in New England 

 at about $20 a ton at wholesale, and if free from mould, it can be 

 used satisfactorily as an oat substitute. Half of the grain may con- 

 sist of crushed or coarsely ground barley, fed in connection with 

 oats, corn and oats, or corn and wheat bran. Although experiments 

 with coarse hominy chop (white meal) are not on record, it is 

 believed that this feed may constitute one-half of tiie daily grain 

 ration in place of corn, or possibly as an oat substitute. 



Wheat, chiefly because of its cost, lias never come into general use 

 as a horse feed. The North Dakota station fed it ground and mixed 

 with wheat bran with satisfactory results. Wheat bran has been 

 quite generally fed by American experimenters, as a portion of the 

 daily grain ration. The New Hampshire station states that a mixture 

 of bran and corn, half and half by weight, is a satisfactory substitute 

 for oats for working horses. 



Cottonseed meal of first quality, although not particularly relished 

 by horses, has been productive of good results when fed in small 



