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ment is apparent to any one accustomed to the care of stock. One 

 often sees, however, just such mistakes made. The general rule? 

 that all sudden changes in quantity or kind of food should be 

 avoided, should be kept in mind. It applies to hay as well as 

 grain. The change from oats to corn is especially liable to bring 

 on colic. The change from corn to oats is not as dangerous, but 

 may cause trouble. The addition to a grain ration of a consider- 

 able quantity of oil or glutin meal, rye, barley, wheat or pease may 

 be followed by disordered digestion. So susceptible is the horse 

 to sudden changes of feed that even a feed of clear bran may give 

 rise to flatulent colic or other similar intestinal disease. An abrupt 

 change from hay to grass, or from well-cured old hay to new, or 

 from coarse, late-cut to fine early-cut hay, may cause disease. 

 Substituting hay with hayed oats or ripe oat straw is no less a 

 cause of intestinal disturbances. Wilted grass is even more dan- 

 gerous in this respect than that perfectly fresh. Ensilage, roots, 

 apples, etc., should only be given in small quantities at first. 

 Gradually increasing quantities may be given until the digestive 

 system becomes accustomed to the change. Uncooked potatoes in 

 quantities not exceeding one or two quarts fed to horses are very 

 apt to cause colic. 



The practice of changing the grain during the day should be 

 abandoned. It is better to feed the same kind morning, noon and 

 night. In case it is not possible to feed the same single grain or 

 mixtures throughout the day, a feed of hay alone, or clear oats, or 

 a mixture of oats and bran, is less objectionable than a feed of 

 corn, provender or other rich mixture. The practice of always 

 giving some hay with the grain is a good one. There are but few 

 horses that will eat too much hay if fed a suflicient amount of grain 

 to supply the greater part of the nutrient material required by the 

 various tissues of the body. Every horse must be given some 

 coarse material in the form of hay, straw or stalks. There must 

 be enough to give bulk to the food mass, or the stomach and intes- 

 tines soon become diseased. The writer recently learned of the 

 death of a valuable horse by inflammation of the bowels, brought 

 on by feeding for several days clear oats without sufficient hay or 

 straw. Without doubt it is best to give the greater part of the 

 hay at night, but some should be given mornings and noons, as 

 well. Only hay should be allowed horses that are warm and 

 sweating freely. The grain should be withheld until the circulation 

 becomes equalized. 



The preparation of food for horses is a subject upon which there 

 exists a diversity of opinions. There are those who advocate the 

 use of whole grain ; others who prefer it crushed, while others 



