The Work Horse 255 



sive for upkeep while they are at work, as feed is converted 

 into energy in a very efficient manner, but the expense 

 runs up on account of the large amount of time which the 

 average horse is idle. On the average farm, more saving 

 can be made in cost of horse power by feeding cheap feeds 

 when the horses are idle than in any other way. This 

 saving can be made by the use of more hay and straw when 

 the horses are idle, instead of feeding them on the same grain 

 ration, whether they are at work or not. A larger use 

 of pasture can be taken advantage of than is common on 

 the average farm. On the other hand, when a horse is 

 working, a larger proportion of concentrates should be 

 fed than under average conditions. The result of the 

 feeding system as commonly practiced is that the horse is 

 fattened during the season when he is not at work, but is 

 losing flesh when he should be at his best. 



The work geldings in good flesh in the fall will winter 

 very well if given the run of a straw pile with a feed 

 of eight to ten pounds legume or cereal hay each a day. 

 Horses that are kept up will winter on good cereal hay and 

 perform all the light work without additional grain, 

 but they will consume from one-and-one-half to one-and- 

 three-fourths pounds of hay to 100 pounds live weight. 

 Very little grain is necessary for idle mature stock. 



PRINCIPAL FEEDS 



Barley is much used throughout the West, due to the 

 large yield to the acre, especially in the dry-farm sections. 

 It is usually fed steam-rolled. Barley supplies large 

 amounts of energy, but care must be taken in its feeding, 

 as it is somewhat constipating, and when fed with wheat 

 hay considerable trouble with impactions may be expected. 



