SILAGE FOR HORSES. 197 



"Desiring to test the matter to the fullest extent, our stallions 

 and brood mares, as well as all the young stock, we fed two 

 full rations of silage daily, and one liberal ration of wheat or 

 oat straw. The result with our brood mares was most phenom- 

 enal, for we now have to represent every mare that was in foal 

 on the farm a weanling, strong and vigorous, and apparently 

 right in every way, with only one exception, where the colt was 

 lost by accident. Of course there may have been something in 

 the season more favorable than usual, but this was the first 

 year in my experience when every colt dropped on the farm was 

 saved." 



The following experience as to the value of silage as a food 

 for horses and other farm animals comes from the Ohio Station: 

 "Our silo was planned and filled with special reference to our 

 dairy stock, but after opening the silo we decided to try feeding 

 the silage to our horses, calves and hogs. The result was 

 eminently satisfactory. We did not find a cow, calf, horse, colt, 

 or hog that refused to eat, or that, did not eat it with apparent 

 relish, not only for a few days, but for full two months. The 

 horses were given one feed of twenty pounds each per day in 

 place of the usual amount of hay, for the period above named, 

 and it was certainly a benefit. Their appetites were sharpened, 

 and the healthfulness of the food was further manifest in the 

 new coat of hair which came with the usual spring shedding. 

 The coat was glossy, the skin loose, and the general appearance 

 was that of horses running upon pasture." 



Many letters have appeared in Breeders' Gazette on this sub- 

 ject. An Iowa writer, A. L. Mason, states that he has fed 

 silage to horses for seven winters with no injurious effects.' He 

 fed once a day, from 20 to 40 pounds according to size of horse 

 and 10 pounds to suckling colts. Another Iowa writer, F. A. 

 Huddlestum, after five years' feeding, to stallions, mares in 

 foal and colts, reports excellent results. He says: "I am now 

 wintering 20 draft brood mares outdoors and their ration is 20 

 pounds silage once a day, five ears corn twice a day, and some 

 tame hay in the rack. I have never seen any that looked better." 

 Geo. McLeod, of Iowa, writes: "We keep about 50 horses and all 

 are fed silage. The work horses are each fed a bushel basketful 

 and so is the Shire stallion. No bad effects. The boys are 

 careful that no moldy silage goes to the horses." Another writer, 

 B. D. R., says: "I am feeding 9 head, including a registered 



