288 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



gradually increased until he is allowed from 20 to 40 ears per day 

 at maturity. In spite of this fact, when these very horses come 

 East, top our markets, and pass under the management of the 

 city stable boss, corn is absolutely prohibited as dangerous to feed ; 

 yet it requires a long time to induce and teach some of these horses 

 to eat anything else." 



Other Concentrates. Dried brewers' grains with shelled corn 

 and wheat bran, in amounts of 8, 4, and 2 pounds, respectively, 

 were found to give good results fed to street-car horses, in experi- 

 ments at the New Jersey 15 and Massachusetts stations. 16 About 

 one pound of linseed meal per head daily with corn and oats 

 gave satisfactory results with farm horses in trials at the Iowa 

 station, 17 maintaining their weights and spirits and willingness to 

 work. On account of its laxative tendencies, it should be used in 

 only small amounts (less than one pound per head daily, espe- 

 cially in summer). Cotton-seed meal, beet and cane molasses, dried 

 distillers' grains, dried beet pulp, etc., are other concentrates used 

 regularly in rations for horses in different parts of the country. 

 There is, therefore, a great variety of feeds to choose from in feed- 

 ing horses in almost all sections; evidently there is no so-called 

 one ration for horses any more than for other classes of farm ani- 

 mals. " Any feeding stuff or combination of feeding stuffs that 

 furnishes the necessary and desirable nutrients at least cost should 

 be the important consideration in preparation of rations for farm 

 horses and mules." 18 



Wintering Farm Horses. Farm work is comparatively light 

 in winter time in northern States, and the horses then qften stand 

 idle for a considerable period. If they are fed expensive feeds, like 

 timothy hay and oats, at this time, they will soon " eat their heads 

 off," and it is impossible to keep them in good working condition 

 at a low feed cost. Cornstalks or corn fodder furnishes an excellent 

 roughage for winter feeding of horses; cereal straws are also valu- 

 able; a few ears of corn are often all the grain the horses receive 

 with this roughage. 



The question of cheap substitutes for oats and timothy for 

 wintering farm horses was studied in an experiment with twelve 

 horses at the Michigan station; 19 six of these were fed a regular 



15 Report 1892. 18 North Carolina Bulletin 189. 



16 Bulletin 99. 19 Bulletin 254. 



17 Bulletin 109. 



