258 Western Live-stock Managemsnt 



amount of crude fiber, but when well cured is palatable. 

 It is usually high-priced and is not a good hay for grow- 

 ing stock unless supplemented with other feeds. Horses 

 do not eat as much timothy as alfalfa, vetch, or clover, 

 which is an advantage in the hands of a feeder who per- 

 sists in keeping the mangers full regardless of the needs of 

 the horse. 



Cheat hay is largely grown in some of the western 

 sections, and is used in place of timothy. It is somewhat 

 more woody in its general character, and is not well 

 adapted for growing stock. When used for work horses, 

 the energy needed, as in the case of feeding timothy, 

 must be largely supplied by the use of concentrated 

 feeds. 



Alfalfa hay is standard throughout the West. The 

 first cutting is preferred for horses, as it is of a less laxative 

 nature, and therefore does not have as washy an effect. 

 Usually it is considered advisable to feed some other hay 

 with alfalfa, but in some sections where the horses are 

 used to it, very fair results have been attained when the 

 entire feed is alfalfa. On account of the large amount of 

 protein involved, there is occasionally some trouble with 

 kidneys. 



Clover hay is not as rich in protein, but practically 

 as rich in digestible matter as alfalfa, and when well 

 cured it is an excellent hay for growing stock. Clover 

 is very often dusty if improperly cured and therefore care 

 must be taken in the feeding of it, especially with work 

 horses, in order to prevent any trouble with the wind. It 

 is also laxative and somewhat washy for hard-worked 

 horses. 



Vetch hay is very laxative for horses, especially when It 

 is cut when somewhat immature, which is the best stage 



