DONKEYS. 123 



Food and Feeding;. — Both oats and maiz© are suitable 

 kinds of corn for donkeys. Oats deserve preference over maize 

 so far as regards suitability, but maize is very often the more 

 economical foodstuff. A mixture of oats and maize, consisting 

 of equal parts of both, is a very useful one for feeding to 

 donkeys. 



Tliere is no necessity to feed oats of first-class quality. In- 

 ferior and cheap foreign oats will answer all requirements 

 satisfactorily, but it must, of course, be borne in mind that 

 thin, light, and husky oats do not go as far as good oats, and 

 that lack of quality must be comiter balanced by an increase in 

 quantity. Maize fed to donkeys should be crushed. No hard and 

 fast rule as to the daily allowance of corn to be fed can be laid 

 down, beyond stating that the harder the donkey is worked 

 the more corn does the animal require. A liberal allowance 

 of corn is certainly necessary if the donkey is required to 

 make use of its trotting and working capacity to the utmost. 

 The daily ration of corn may range from three to six pounds. 

 It should be divided into three feeds, one being given first 

 thing in the morning, the other at midday, and the third last 

 thing in the evening. A plentiful allowance of chop, consist- 

 ing of chaffed hay and straw, should be mixed with the corn. 

 Some long hay must also be included in the daily bill of fare; 

 a small quantity of this should be given at the morning feed, 

 and a little ought to be supplied once or twice in the course 

 of the day, while last thing in the evening as much hay should 

 be given as the donkey will clear up over-night. The amount 

 of hay required varies considerably in different cases. Some 

 donkeys have naturally bigger appetites than others, and the 

 more com a donkey receives, the less hay will it eat. An 

 allowance of one truss of hay per week is a very liberal esti- 

 mate, and, in many cases, the consumption of hay will not 

 amount to this quantity. Tliere is no reason for supplying 

 hay of prime quality ; inferior and coarse hay will answer 

 perfectly well, and either meadow or seeds-hay is suitable. 



Grazing;. — During the spring, summer, and autumn, 

 donkeys should be turned out for several hours a. day to 



