FEEDING HORSES AND MULES 281 



horse to move his own body a distance of one mile at the speed given, and 

 the expenditure of energy for locomotion will, therefore, be 264 X 20 

 equals 5280 Calories. To these amounts must be added the maintenance 

 requirements of the animal, viz., 4356 Calories. The available energy 

 required per day will then be 



Calories 



For useful work 10,929 



For locomotion 5,280 



For maintenance 4,356 



20,565 



If we assume 10 pounds of hay and 10 pounds of oats as the basis of the 

 ration of the horse, the remainder of the food to be supplied in the form of 

 corn, we have: 



Calories 



Net available energy required 20,565 



In 10 pounds of hay 3,270 



10 pounds of oats 8,820 



12,090 



Lacking : . . . . 8,475 



Corn required to complete the ration : 8,475 -i- 1263 = 6.7 pounds. 



The available energy in feeding stuffs for horses has not been 

 determined directly, but it is from computed data, " some of which 

 appear of questionable validity" (Armsby), and we must, there- 

 fore, look upon calculations like the foregoing as showing only 

 approximately the true energy requirements of horses for work. 

 As a general guide to the feed requirements at work, Kellner 

 recommends the amounts per thousand pounds live weight given at 

 the beginning of the chapter under Kellner- Armsby standards. 



Having now sketched in merest outline the application of some 

 of the scientific principles that have been worked out of late years 

 with regard to the relation of feed requirements of horses, for work 

 of different kinds, we shall consider briefly the practical feeding of 

 horses and some important questions that have bearing on this 

 subject. 



Feeding the Mare and the Foal. — The new-born foal is always 

 given the colostrum of the dam. This has purgative properties and 

 serves to cleanse the alimentary tract of fecal matters. As a general 

 rule, the foal depends wholly on the milk of his dam for his nourish- 

 ment for the first couple of months, and largely so until toward 

 weaning time. It is important to feed the mare while suckling 

 her colt with a view to having a good supply of milk. If possible, 



