296 Feeds and Feeding. 



Girard^ found that when hard-worked horses getting 19 quarts of 

 oats with 14 lbs. of hay and straw without limit were stopped from 

 work for 3 days and fed the same ration, paralysis, resulting in 

 death, would often occur. By reducing the ration during idle days 

 to 6 quarts of oats at noon and 6 quarts of bran mash both night 

 and morning, with roughage as before, the trouble ceased. 



466. Fattening horses. — The following from Craig and Brettell 

 of the Iowa Agricultural College- describes the method of fattening 

 horses in the corn belt for the Chicago markets: 



"The horses are usually purchased in the fall, after the farm work 

 is over, and are stabled and fed an abundant ration, care being taken 

 to accustom them gradually to full feed in order to avoid colic. When 

 on full feed the horses studied were given, per head, 10 to 14 ears of 

 corn in the morning, at noon, and again at night, with 3 quarts of 

 oats and bran 1 : 2 and hay ad libitum in the middle of the forenoon 

 and also in the middle of the afternoon. Recognizing the importance 

 of a long period of rest, no feed was given from 6 or 7 at night 

 until 5 o'clock in the morning. The horses were watered twice a day 

 and were given all they would drink. On account of the large num- 

 ber fed, the horses could not be exercised, but as a rule were kept 

 idle in the stable until a few days before they were marketed. To in- 

 sure good condition it was found advantageous to give 0.5-0.75 

 pint Glauber salts per head twice a week. Oil meal, it is stated, may 

 also be given to good advantage, as it aids greatly in putting on flesh 

 and also makes the skin soft. 



"The importance of keeping mangers and feed boxes clean is in- 

 sisted upon, and attention is especially directed to the need of ex- 

 amining the horses' teeth and removing with a float any sharp points 

 which would make the gums sore and thus prevent the horses from 

 masticating their feed properly. 



"With such feeding and care satisfactory gains were generally 

 realized. In one instance, it is stated, a horse fed in this manner 

 made a gain of 5.5 lbs. per day for a period of 50 days, or 550 lbs. 

 in 100 days. In several instances, with as many as a dozen horses, a 

 gain of 3.75 lbs. per head per day was obtained throughout a period 

 of 90 days." (446) 



467. Hints on feeding. — Hard-worked horses must have rich food, 

 for the richer the food the more easily is it digested, and the greater 

 the proportion available for work. On the other hand, rich feed, if 

 carelessly administered, brings increased danger. Idle horses or those 



1 Langworthy, Office of Expt. Sta., Bui. 125. = Breeder 's Gaz., 35, 1899, p. 781. 



