348 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



corn is the common grain for the horse in America. It 

 is used largely in the corn belt and to the southward in 

 the cotton states. Much has been said against the use 

 of corn. However, it is ordinarily the cheapest of all 

 the cereal grains. A given weight furnishes more energy 

 than any other food. It furnishes the largest amount of 

 digestible nutrients, at the least cost, and is universally 

 palatable. While conceding that corn is not equal to 

 oats as a grain for the horse, nevertheless, because of its 

 low cost and high feeding value, this grain will be ex- 

 tensively used when large numbers of horses must be 

 economically maintained. Corn contains large quan- 

 tities of nitrogen-free extract, and when fed exclusively 

 is too fattening. If fed in too large quantities it pro- 

 duces digestive disorders. Corn also lacks a sufficient 

 amount of mineral matter and protein for the prop 

 development of young animals. 



Oats and corn — Ground corn and oats, mixed half ai 

 half, make a very good grain ration for the horse, and 

 much cheaper than oats alone. In a three years' tet 

 with gelding and brood mares worked on farms and a 

 heavy draft, this mixture gave equally as good result 

 as 'whole oats, and reduced the cost of the ration ap 

 proximately 10%. The bulk of the oats overcomes, i .. 

 a large measure, the objectionable features of the con. 

 while the corn, with its large amount of easily digestibk 

 materials, supplies the ration with much energy. 



Barley, rye and wheat. — Each of these grains is some- 

 times fed to the horse. The question of their use depend'' 

 largely upon their market price. Usually they are worth 

 more for other purposes. Wheat especially is worth more 

 for milling. Wheat has, however, been fed to the horse 

 with varying success, depending largely on the feeder and 

 the method of feeding it. 



Barley is not fed to horses in the East to any great 

 extent because of its demand for malting, but on the 

 Pacific coast it is extensively used for feeding horses at 



