232 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



It has been ascertained that the best balanced diet for 

 the horse is one which has an albuminoid ratio of about 

 I to 8.^ That is to say, the amount of albuminous com- 

 pounds should be about one-eighth of the carbohydrates 

 and fat, the latter having been multiplied by -2^, as stated 

 under food units. 



As an example, let us calculate the albuminoid ratio 

 of oats. Referring to table of digestible composition 

 (p. 2i3)j we find oats contain : 



Fat, 4 per cent. ; carbohydrates, 45 per cent. ; and 



albuminoids, 8 per cent. 

 4 X 2^ + 45 = 55, which, divided by 8 (albuminoids), 



= 6-9 (nearly). The albuminoid ratio of oats is 



therefore very nearly i to 7. 



Experiments have further shown that a horse of 

 1,000 pounds weight, when at rest, requires 8 pounds 

 of dry digestible food constituents to maintain it. The 

 amount necessary is, of course, considerably increased 

 when a horse is at work, and as the average cart-horse 

 will weigh over 1,000 pounds, we may put the average 

 requirement as : 



When at rest, 10 to 12 pounds digestible constituents. 

 When moderately worked, 16 to 18 pounds" digestible 



constituents. 

 When heavily worked, 22 to 24 pounds digestible 



constituents. 



Having an albuminoid ratio of i to 8. 



How seldom is the diet varied according to the amount 



carbohydrates is in excess of that given in the first table ; this 

 is due to digestible fibre being added to the carbohydrates in this 

 table. 



1 This is about the ratio given by good quality hay. 



