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FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



points on the practicability and economy 

 of reducing the amount of fodder fed to 

 horses, the use of alfalfa alone as a 

 maintenance ration for horses at rest and 

 at work, and the effect upon the kidneys, 

 of alfalfa, cut at early, medium and late 

 stages. 



The experiments showed clearly that it 

 is easier to maintain the weights of 

 horses on alfalfa than on timothy; the 

 cost of maintenance also appears to be 

 less. The general appearance of the 

 horses was, in every case, somewhat in 

 favor of the alfalfa. When alfalfa and 

 timothy were fed ad libitum, a larger 

 quantity of the alfalfa was eaten, appar- 

 ently for the reason that it was better 

 relished by the horses. It was found, in 

 these experiments, that attacks of colic 

 may be easily prevented by a suitable 

 system of feeding. It was suggested, for 

 example, that the amount of alfalfa hay 

 commonly fed may be reduced to the ex- 

 tent of one-half and grain substituted 

 for this hay. That colic may be caused 

 by the use of too much coarse hay has 

 been shown in innumerable instances, es- 

 pecially where horses have been allowed 

 to eat large quantities of hay immedi- 

 ately before going to work. If alfalfa 

 hay is fed ad libitum, horses will eat as 

 much as 45 pounds per day; but 20 

 pounds give far better results," if a small 

 amount of grain is added to the ration. 



The use of alfalfa hay appears to cause 

 a greater consumption of water by the 

 horses and consequently an increased 

 amount of urine. No evidence has been 

 obtained, however, that this increased 

 excretion of urine is in any way detri- 

 mental to the health of the horse. At 

 the Utah experiment station, alfalfa has 

 formed the only coarse forage in a ra- 

 tion for all horses for the past 15 years. 

 During this time no horse has died from 

 the direct or indirect effects of feeding 

 alfalfa. Moreover, no injurious effects 

 have been noted, as a result of excessive 

 urination. 



On account of the fact that through- 

 out many of the far western states, al- 

 falfa hay, with perhaps indefinite quan- 

 tities of straw, constitutes the mainten- 

 ance ration of horses during the winter 

 or at periods when they are not at work, 

 it is desirable to determine the amount 

 of alfalfa hay required for maintenance 

 ration at rest and for light work. Ac- 

 cording to experiments at the Wyoming 

 station, it was found that 14.3 pounds of 

 alfalfa hay per day was enough for 

 maintenance when the horses were at 



liberty to eat straw at a stack. In other 

 cases, only 13.5 pounds of alfalfa hay 

 were required, together with 2.5 pounds 

 of oat straw. Estimated on a basis of 

 1.000 pounds live weight, horses ap- 

 pear to require about 12 1 /2 pounds of al- 

 falfa hay and 2 pounds of oat straw for 

 maintenance. As already indicated, 

 similar experiments were made in Utah, 

 with the result that 32 pounds of alfalfa 

 hay were found to be sufficient for a 

 team at light work. 



Brome hay i n tests at the North Da- 

 kota experiment station proved to be 

 equal, or in some cases slightly superior 

 to timothy. It starts early in the spring 

 and therefore forms a pasture which is 

 greatly relished by horses as well as 

 other animals. It also stands dry 

 weather better than timothy, and for 

 this reason is adapted for use in the 

 western states, where the rainfall is 

 comparatively low. In experiments with 

 brome grass in North Dakota, this hay 

 was fed for a period of 42 days. The 

 horses ate the brome grass with appar- 

 ently greater relish than they did the 

 timothy. 



Beggar weed hay — I n some parts of 

 the South, particularly in Florida, beg- 

 gar weed hay is used as a coarse forage 

 for horses and other animals. In a se- 

 ries of feeding experiments, carried on 

 in Florida, beggar weed hay gave excel- 

 lent results. It apparently has about 

 the same feeding value as cowpea hay 

 and should preferably be run through a 

 shredder before feeding. 



Clover hay throughout the eastern 

 states, and wherever clover is raised on 

 a large scale, constitutes one of the im- 

 portant coarse fodders for horses. Clover 

 hay has been found to be more nutritious 

 than timothy, nearly equaling alfalfa 

 in this respect. It is objected to, how- 

 ever, by many horsemen, particularly for 

 feeding roadsters, on account of its tend- 

 ency to produce heaves and other res- 

 piratory troubles, when fed in a dusty 

 or otherwise unclean condition. These 

 objections do not apply to clean, properly 

 cured clover hay and there seems to be 

 no good reason why it should not be fed 

 extensively, if preserved in good condi- 

 tion. Moldy clover hay may cause 

 acute indigestion or even death. The 

 cause of death in such cases is the path- 

 ogenic mold, which may attack the intes- 

 tines and also the lungs, if carried into 

 those organs with the inspired air. 



