FEEDS FOR HORSES 241 



equal to oats. Not being especially palatable, they should be mixed 

 with other concentrates. 



Linseed meal. — Linseed meal, rich in protein and having tonic and 

 somewhat laxative properties, is an excellent supplement for rations 

 poor in protein. Not over 1 to 1.5 lbs. per head daily is ordinarily 

 fed, due both to its high price and its laxative effect. Linseed meal 

 is useful for bringing into condition rundown horses with rough coats, 

 and gives bloom and finish in fitting horses for show or sale. 



Cottonseed meal. — While it is unsafe to- feed large amounts of 

 cottonseed meal to horses, good results are secured when this feed is 

 properly used. Being a heavy feed and not particularly relished by 

 horses, it should be mixed with better-liked bulky concentrates, such as 

 whole or crushed oats, dried brewers' grains, or corn-and-eob meal. 

 It may also be sprinkled on silage or on moistened hay or stover. A 

 safe rule is to feed not over 0.2 lb. of cottonseed meal for every 100 

 lbs. live weight of animal, distributed over 3 daily feeds. Horses 

 should be accustomed to the meal gradually, not over one-fourth 

 pound being given at each feed for the first 2 or 3 weeks. 



Leguminous seeds. — Like the horse bean and other beans so widely 

 fed in Europe, the field pea in the northern states and the cowpea and 

 soybean farther south are useful in balancing rations low in protein. 

 All should be ground, and, on account of their wealth of protein, 

 should never be fed as the sole concentrate. 



Miscellaneous protein-rich concentrates. — Various oil cakes and 

 meals, such as peanut, cocoanut, sunflower seed, and rapeseed meal, are 

 fed to horses in Europe in quantities of 2 to 4 lbs. per head daily 

 with good results. Dried distillers' grains have given excellent re- 

 sults when forming one-fourth of the concentrate allowance. Tank- 

 age and blood meal are useful for rundown horses, 1 to 2 lbs. of 

 tankage or 1 lb. of blood meal being fed. 



III. Carbonaceous Roughages 



Too much roughage injurious. — While the horse cannot live on 

 concentrates alone, even on oats with their strawlike hulls, too much 

 roughage is also injurious. On account of the small capacity of his 

 stomach, we cannot expect the horse at work to secure most of his 

 nourishment from roughages. Thru carelessness or mistaken kind- 

 ness, the mangers are often kept filled with hay. The horse may then 

 eat far too much, with digestive disturbances, labored breathing, and 

 quick tiring as the results. There should always be a definite, limited 

 allowance of hay, fed mostly at night when there is ample time for 

 mastication and digestion. 



