360 THE FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



ful chemical studies, it is not found that it contains any 

 compounds so characteristically unlike those of other 

 grains as to account for an unusual influence upon the 

 nervous system, or for a superior development of the 

 muscles. 



It may be suggested that the "life," or nervous con- 

 dition, of a horse is a resultant of several factors or 

 influences. These are the quantity of digestible food sup- 

 plied, the proportion of protein in the ration, the con- 

 dition of the digestive tract, care, exercise, and all the 

 many small influences which affect health. In those 

 instances where feeding oats has seemed to improve the 

 performance of the horse, even if this has actually 

 occurred, we have no assurance that in changing the 

 ration the amount and proportions of the nutrients 

 digested have remained the same. It seems entirely 

 probable that if thorough comparison could be made 

 between oats and the best grain mixtures which could 

 be suggested in the light of present knowledge, the oats 

 would not maintain so great a superiority over other 

 feeds for growing colts as is now generally attributed to 

 them. Experiments which have been made indicate that 

 for producing rapid growth oats were inferior to either a 

 mixture of peas and middlings, or to a mixture of mid- 

 dlings, gluten meal, and linseed meal; but these obser- 

 vations were not carried far enough to determine the 

 relative effect upon the quality of the animal. 



458. Rations for growing colts. — Doubtless all neces- 

 sary conditions for producing growth and quality in colts 

 can be met by a ration of which oats form a part. The 

 following grain mixtures are suggested as illustrative of 

 good ones: 



