68 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



use of coarse foods that the horse will not eat unless forced to do so 

 by neglect. Mules are often preferred by large business concerns, 

 not that they consume less food for a given amount of work than 

 a horse, but that their feeding can be trusted to less skillful hands 

 without seriously endangering the mule's health. If an extra 

 large mess is given him, he eats what he wishes and leaves the 

 rest; not so with the tired horse, as he will eat all the grain that is 

 given him up to the point of seriously endangering his health. 

 For best results the ration of the mule should be comprised of 

 easily digested and nutritious feeds which should be varied from 

 time to time as no animal loves a variety better than the mule. 

 The ration should be suitable to the kind of work. For light 

 work a small quantity of grain and a relatively large quantity of 

 hay is best, but when the work is severe and exacting, the quantity 

 of grain should be increased and the hay decreased. As among 

 all other farm animals there is much difference in individuals, 

 and the successful feeder will make a careful study of each and 

 modify the ration accordingly, as some should have a little 

 more than the regular allowance, others less. In all essential 

 features the mule is very similar to the horse, and what we sug- 

 gested for horses applies with equal force to mules. 



SAMPLE RATIONS FOR THE HORSE 



The following rations are collected from various sources and 

 furnish a guide in determining the kind and amount of feed that 

 should be allowed the horse under various conditions : — 



