FEEDING OF WORKING ANIMALS 281 



seen from the tables in the Appendix, maize has a 

 higher starch equivalent than oats. 



Barley can also take the place of oats, but it must 

 be remembered that this grain varies a good deal in 

 composition, and so care should be taken to choose 

 good samples. Small, hard grains of barley easily 

 pass undigested through the animal, and cannot 

 completely replace an equal weight of oats. 



Rye is sometimes also used as food for horses ; 

 it is preferable to cook it and to give 1 part to 

 2-3 parts of oats. 



Wheat seems to be less suitable for horses ; it 

 is sometimes given to breeding stallions, but, like 

 buckwheat, it causes irritation of the skin, and this 

 can greatly inconvenience the animal. 



Amongst the Leguminosae field beans in quantities 

 of 1-2 lbs. fitly find a place in the ration, and par- 

 ticularly so if an extra effort has to be made, or if 

 continuous hard work is being done. Oil cakes — 

 linseed, palm-nut, cocoa-nut, sesame, maize germ 

 — and meals made from these are given in quanti- 

 ties of 1, at most 2 lbs. per day per horse. Mo- 

 lasses and its mixtures with brewers' grains, maize 

 germ cake, palm-nut meal, chopped straw, etc. are 

 all excellent for horses, and may be given in quanti- 

 ties up to 3 lbs. per day to horses, which are thereby 

 kept in better condition for work as well as in 

 improved health. Most of the other ordinary 

 foods are only used in a supplementary manner 



