n8 THEORY OF FEEDING. 



The measure of a horse's appetite is by weight, rather than 

 by bulk. As the feeding value of corn is more than double 

 that of hay, we can, by substituting corn for a portion of the 

 hay, increase the amount of nutrition in the food, without 

 exceeding the limit of appetite. Thus, a daily ration of 

 19 Ibs. of corn and 12 Ibs. of hay (total = 31 Ibs.) would be 

 theoretically equivalent to at least one of 50 Ibs. of hay, which 

 would be a quantity far exceeding the eating capacity of an 

 ordinary horse. The consumption of hay takes more time 

 than that of corn (p. 79) ; it entails a greater loss of energy in 

 chewing and digesting it (p. 99) ; and causes a horse to drink 

 more water (p. 99), and consequently impedes his breathing 

 powers to a greater extent, by increasing the weight and size 

 of the contents of his stomach and intestines. Hence the 

 necessity of corn for working horses. 



As regards the composition of food, we find that the harder 

 the work, the more starch and fat does a horse need, and 

 that little or no increase is required in nitrogenous matter. 

 Consequently, maize is an admirable food for hard-working 

 adult horses ; although, as we have seen, it is a poor one for 

 growing animals. 



FOOD FOR YOUNG HORSES. 



The great difference between the feeding requirements of 

 a young animal and those of an adult, is that the former needs 

 more materials for development than the latter, and that the 

 grown-up animal wants a larger supply of energy in his food, 

 on account of his labour being more severe as a rule. Hence 

 a foal will require a larger percentage of albumen and of bone- 

 forming substances than an older horse. This conclusion is 

 supported by the nature of the respective composition of 

 colostrum, milk, and pasture grass. In determining their 

 nutritive ratios, we must take into consideration that about 

 25 per cent, of the nitrogenous matter of grass consists of 



