i63 



be found far superior to an}' of the fanc}' patent calf-meals. It keeps 

 the stomach and bowels in proper order, and the young annnal thrives 

 and does well on the mixture. 



^So. Oats may be looked upon as the staple food for both horses and 

 cattle, hut upon no consideration should they be boiled for either. It is a waste 

 of time, money, and fuel to boil oats, as it makes no change in them; 

 the horse is inchned to bolt them in this state without chewing, and they 

 pass through a cow unchanged. For the Horse, as already stated under 

 teeth (par. 353), oats should be given whole in the berry, except in the 

 case of a young animal which is teething, or an old one with uneven 

 teeth, when they may be bruised. For Cattle, they should always be 

 mashed or crushed, and mixed with other foods. Farmers, as a rule, 

 have a very great fault in giving too many oats to cattle. The cereal 

 being the produce of their own land, is apt to be used too freely, some 

 giving as much as 8 lb. to lo lb. per day, when only about half this 

 quantity will be assimilated or taken into the system, the other half 

 passing through the bowels as waste material. Better results may, 

 therefore, be obtained by selling half the oat-crop, and, with the 

 money, purchasing linseed and cotton cakes. Mixing these with the 

 remaining oats (crushed), will give a quicker and more profitable 

 return, and a richer manure heap. 



381. Maize (Indian Corn). — This is a good all-round article, and 

 will give better results on expenditure than any other known feeder. 

 For the Horse, when doing quick work, it is, however, of little or no 

 use, either boiled or raw, nor should it be given to a horse which has a 

 tendency to lay on fat, or to one having little work to do, as it throws 

 the animal out of condition, conduces to swelled legs, grease, and 

 cracked heels, and makes the animal lazy and sluggish ; but for a 

 cart-horse, or waggon -horse, having regular working-days, it answers 

 fairly well, when broken and mixed with oats, beans, pease, and bran. 

 For Cattle, or Sheep, it answers splendidly, when made into meal, or 

 broken and mixed with cotton and linseed cakes. For the Pig, it should 

 not be given to a very young animal, as it is apt to produce irritation 

 of the stomach, accompanied with fits. Pollards are much better, or 



