356 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



Millet hay.— Hay from Japanese millet, Hungarian 

 grass, and like forages, may often be advantageously fed 

 to horses, provided the allowance is limited (p. 358). 

 When such hay is properly cured, and fed in moderation, 

 or in connection with some other hay, it makes a very 

 good forage for the horse and produces no unfavorable 

 effects. Perhaps some grain should always be fed when 

 millet forms a part of the ration. 



Corn forage. — Thickly grown corn, when properly 

 cured, makes one of the best dry forages for the horse. 

 Corn thus seeded bears small palatable ears which are 

 easily masticated. The leaves are free from dust, as well 

 as palatable and full of nutrients. When the yield of 

 such forage and its feeding value are compared with that 

 of timothjr hay from the same area, the usefulness and 

 economy of the corn plant becomes apparent. 



Corn stalks. — Dry corn stalks that have been cured in 

 the shock are sometimes fed as a substitute for hay. Ex- 

 periments and experience have shown that in the fall 

 iDcfore the leaves are leached it is as valuable as timothy 

 hay, pound for pound consumed. The stalks cost only 

 one-third as much as the timothy and therefore they prove 

 much more economical. The question is often raised 

 whether cutting or shredding improves their digestibility. 

 It will not improve the digestibility, but cutting or 

 shredding has other advantages : The cut or shredded 

 stalks can be much more conveniently stored; they are 

 more easily handl.ed ; they will retain their nutrients 

 longer than if left to leach in the shock. If the stalks are 

 to be fed in this manner, emphasis must be put upon the 

 necessity of cutting the corn as the ear hardens and be- 

 fore the blades and stalks become dead or are bitten by 

 frost. 



Straw. — The straw of the various cereal grains is some- 

 times fed to the horse as a part of his roughage. While 

 the straw has some value, the horse requires much more 

 grain when hay is replaced by straw. Idle work horses 



