FEEDS FOR HORSES 239 



difficult to digest and may cause colic. Changes from oats or other 

 feeds to corn should be gradual. New corn may produce indigestion. 



The other cereals. — On the Pacific coast, and in Europe, Africa, 

 and many parts of the Orient, barley is extensively fed to horses. 

 Pound for pound, it is slightly less valuable than oats. While the 

 high price of sound wheat usually prohibits its use for stock feeding, 

 damaged grain may be fed to horses with economy, if not moldy. 

 Only moderate amounts should be fed and the crushed wheat should 

 be mixed with a bulky concentrate like bran or with chaffed hay or 

 straw, to avoid digestive disturbances, as it tends to pack in the 

 stomach. Rye may also be used for horses, the same precautions being 

 taken to prevent digestive trouble as with wheat. Since these grains 

 are hard and small, they should be crushed or rolled. If finely 

 ground they form a pasty, unpleasant mass when mixed with the 

 saliva in the mouth. 



In the southwestern states, kafir, milo, and the seeds of other sor- 

 ghums are extensively used for horse feeding. Being small and hard, 

 they should be ground or chopped. They may also be fed unthreshed 

 in the head along with the forage. 



Miscellaneous carbonaceous concentrates. — Thruout the sugar- 

 cane districts cane molasses is often the most economical source of 

 carbohydrates for work animals. On 47 plantations, employing over 

 5,000 work animals, chiefly mules, an average of 9.5 lbs. of molasses 

 was fed per head daily with excellent results. The molasses was 

 usually mixed with the concentrates or with cut hay, but was some- 

 times fed in troughs or poured on uncut roughage. Due to the high 

 price of molasses in the northern states, it is rarely economical to feed 

 it in any large amount, tho a quart or so a day may often be profitable 

 as an appetizer for horses out of condition. 



As beet molasses is very laxative, not over 4 to 5 lbs. should be fed 

 per head daily to draft horses, and but 2.5 lbs. to driving horses. In 

 these amounts and thinned and mixed with other feed, it is well liked 

 by horses and has given excellent results. Molasses feeds of good 

 quality are satisfactory for horses, when economical in price. 



Rough rice is an economical and satisfactory feed for horses and 

 mules in the southern states, when low in price compared with the 

 other cereals. 



Dried beet pulp is often refused by horses when fed alone, but may 

 be used as a portion of the ration when mixed with other concentrates. 



II. Protein-rich Concentrates 



Wheat bran. — Bran is one of the most useful feeds for horses, be- 

 cause of its bulky nature and mild laxative properties. If not more 



