HOBSES AND MULES 



323 



Moldy clover may also affect the kid- 

 neys and liver in an injurious manner, 

 according to the investigations of 

 Bansse. The second crop of clover is 

 frequently accused of a tendency to 

 cause horses to slobber. The reason for 

 this is not known. Some horse raisers 

 have found that the addition of bran or 

 apples to the ration has a tendency to 

 prevent slobbering when it is caused by 

 eating clover hay. 



Cutting hay — The practice of cutting 

 hay for horses has long been recom- 

 mended, and is quite generally adopted 

 by farmers. The use of cut hay on the 

 farm has followed its successful use by 

 companies which use large numbers of 

 horses. The ordinary reason offered for 

 the practice of cutting hay is that the 

 work of mastication is somewhat light- 

 ened and that digestion takes place more 

 rapidly, with less likelihood of the devel- 

 opment of colic. The last point has been 

 found to be an important one in con- 

 nection with the morning and noon 

 meals of the horse, or in feeding at any 

 time just previous to putting the horse 

 to work. At such times, the use of un- 

 cut hay, especially if fed in large quan- 

 tities, appears to be more likely to cause 

 colic than if cut hay is fed. 



In a comparison of cut and uncut 

 clover hay in Utah, it was found that 

 the process of cutting was to be recom- 

 mended, from an economic standpoint, 

 s : nce the nutritive value of the clover 

 was thereby decidedly increased. If the 

 stems are too dry and brittle, they may 

 irritate the horse's mouth and this is 

 about the only objection which can bf 

 raised to cutting the hay. Such troubles, 

 however, very rarely occur, and may be 

 obviated by moistening the hay before 

 feeding. The practice of moistening 

 clover hay may also be advantageous, for 

 the reason that the dust will thus be 

 prevented from entering the lungs and 

 exercising any irritating effect upon 

 them. The supposition that clover hay 

 causes horses to sweat more freely than 

 timothy and that it produces softer flesh 

 seems to be without good foundation. On 

 account of the greater protein content in 

 clover hay, as compared with timothy, it 

 forms a well balanced ration with corn, 

 and thus we may prepare a very simple 

 ration for horses on the farm. 



According to French experience, the 

 greatest amount of nutriment, in the 

 best condition, is obtained from clover 

 hay, when it is cut just at the beginning 

 of the flowering period. The digestibility 



of the protein, however, may be at the 

 maximum, during the period of full 

 flower. Statistics furnished by the Paris 

 cab companies indicate that the extensive 

 use of clover increases the percentage of 

 colic among horses. Clover in the form 

 of silage, prepared in regular silos, or in 

 stacks, may also be fed to horses under 

 the same precautions that are desirable 

 in feeding hay. 



Corn silage has not been fed to horses 

 as extensively as to cows and sheep, but 

 when preserved in good condition may 

 be used for the purpose of adding succu- 

 lence to the ration. Tne desirability of 

 keeping a close watch on the condition of 

 the silage for feeding to horses is evident 

 from the fact that, in Pennsylvania, sev- 

 eral cases of poisoning of horses from 

 eating moldy silage have been noted. 

 These cases occurred, however, from 

 feeding the spoiled silage from the top of 

 the silo; and this material should not 

 be fed to any farm animal. In the cases 

 in question, a paralysis occurred, begin- 

 ning with the throat and gradually ex- 

 tending over the rest of the body. Ex- 

 periments with the poisonous silage 

 showed that half a bushel would cause 

 well marked symptoms, or death. 



In Ohio, as high as 30 pounds per day 

 of silage have been fed, with good re- 

 sults; but in winter some difficulty was 

 experienced in using this material on 

 account of the fact that it easily becomes 

 frozen. In Canada, rations of 10 pounds 

 per day of silage were fed to horses. It 

 was eaten with apparent relish and no 

 bad effects were observed. The silage, 

 however, did not appear to replace any 

 appreciable quantity of the grain ration, 

 and was for the most part an added 

 expense rather than an economy. In 

 fattening horses, however, good results 

 were obtained from feeding 5 to 8 pounds 

 of silage per day, in that it seemed to 

 prevent digestive troubles. Silage in 

 good condition, not musty nor improp- 

 erly fermented, may be safely and ad- 

 vantageously fed in rations of from 10 

 to 15 pounds. Fletcher fed a bushel a day 

 without, harm, and with excellent re- 

 sults. Stewart found that roots in 

 horses' rations may be replaced by silage. 

 ISTot only corn may be ensiled and fed in 

 this form to horses, but good results are 

 also obtained from the use of ensiled 

 grasses and clover which may properly 

 form from one-half to three-fourths of 

 the ration for horses at light work. 



Tn Virginia, it was found that silage 

 could be advantageously fed to 



