DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 57 
It is also unsafe to feed horses frozen silage on account of the danger of 
coli. * * * 
To summarize, silage is safe to feed to horses and mules only when it is 
made from fairly mature corn, properly stored in the silo. When it is prop- 
erly stored and is not allowed to mold, no feed exceeds it as a cheap winter 
ration. It is most valuable for horses and mules which are not at heavy 
work, such as brood mares and work horses during the slack season. With 
plenty of grain on the cornstalks, horses will keep in good condition on a 
ration of 20 pounds of silage and 10 pounds of hay for each 1,000 pounds of 
live weight. 
PREPARATION OF FEEDS. 
Feed is prepared for any of the following reasons: To render it 
more easily eaten; to make it more digestible; to economize in 
amount; to give it some new property; and to preserve it. We have 
already spoken of the preparation of drying, and need not revert to 
this again, as it only serves to preserve the different feeds. Drying 
does, however, change some of the properties of feed, 7. ¢., removes 
the laxative tendency of most of them. 
The different grains are more easily eaten when ground, crushed, 
or even boiled. Rye or wheat should never be given whole, and even 
of corn it is found that there is less waste when ground, and, in 
common with all other grains, it is more easily digested than when 
fed whole. 
Hay and fodder are economized when cut in short pieces. Not 
only will the horse eat the necessary quantity in a shorter time, but it 
will be found that there is less waste, and the mastication of the 
grains (whole or crushed) fed with them is insured. 
Reference has already been made to those horses that bolt their 
feed, and we need only remark here that the consequences of such 
ravenous eating may be prevented if the grains are fed with cut hay, 
straw, or fodder. Long or uncut hay should also be fed, even though 
a certain quantity of hay or straw is cut and fed mixed with grain. 
One objection to feeding cut hay mixed with ground or crushed 
grains, and wetted, must not be overlooked during the hot months. 
Such feed is liable to undergo fermentation if not fed directly after 
it is mixed; even the mixing trough, unless frequently scalded and 
cleaned, becomes sour and enough of. its scrapings are given with the 
feed to produce flatulent (wind) colic. A small quantity of salt 
should always be mixed with such feed. Bad hay should never be 
cut simply because it insures a greater consumption of it; bad feeds 
are dear at any price, and should never be fed. 
The advantage of boiling roots has been mentioned. Not only 
does this render them less liable to produce digestive disorders, but it 
also makes them clean. Boiling or steaming grains is to be recom- 
mended when the teeth are poor, or when the digestive organs are 
weak. 
