398 FEEDING ANIMALS. 



is some 25 per cent, less than oats, and is, therefore, not 

 quite so healthy a food to be given alone and unground, 

 but when ground and mixed with cut and moistened 

 clover-hay, makes a desirable ration for young or mature 

 horses. 



Rye is of greater weight per bushel, has 60 per cent, less 

 husk than oats, but has also a less percentage of albumi- 

 noids than the latter, and also more carbo-hydrates and a 

 slightly lower nutritive ratio, but when ground and mixed 

 with cut hay makes a healthy and appropriate ration. Rye 

 is not now so largely used as horse food as formerly, owing 

 to its extra price for distilling. 



Millet-meal is a highly appropriate food for young or 

 mature horses. It has a higher proportion of albuminoids 

 and a higher nutritive ratio than oats, but having less 

 oil. It is found, when well ground (and it cannot properly 

 be fed without grinding), to be one of the best rations for 

 horses, being particularly adapted to the development of 

 muscular strength. 



Peas contain more than double the digestible albumi- 

 noids of oats and more than a hundred per cent, higher 

 nutritive ratio. Like English bean-meal, our pea-meal is 

 considered the strongest horse food. It has a somewhat 

 constipating effect upon the digestive organs; and it is 

 therefore advisable to mix 8 bushels of peas with 8 bushels 

 of Indian corn and one bushel of flax-seed, and grind all 

 together. The flax-seed counteracts the constipating effect 

 of the peas ; and the mixture has a slightly higher nutri- 

 tive -ratio than oats. The author has fed this ration with 

 much satisfaction. The combination of food elements is 

 admirable, and the flavor is well relished by horses. 



The Vetch is very similar in chemical constitution to 

 peas, and it may be used in about the same combination 

 as a ration. This crop has not been raised as much in 

 this country as its importance demands. It is probably 



