The Work Horse 255 
sive for upkeep while they are at work, as feed is converted 
into energy in a very efficient manner, but the expense 
runs up on account of the large amount of time which the 
average horse is idle. On the average farm, more saving 
can be made in cost of horse power by feeding cheap feeds 
when the horses are idle than in any other way. This 
saving can be made by the use of more hay and straw when 
the horses are idle, instead of feeding them on the same grain 
ration, whether they are’at work or not. A larger use 
of pasture can be taken advantage of than is common on 
the average farm. On the other hand, when a horse is 
working, a larger proportion of concentrates should be 
fed than under average conditions. The result of the 
feeding system as commonly practiced is that the horse is 
fattened during the season when he is not at work, but is 
losing flesh when he should be at his best. 
The work geldings in good flesh in the fall will winter 
very well if given the run of a straw pile with a feed 
of eight to ten pounds legume or cereal hay each a day. 
Horses that are kept up will winter on good cereal hay and 
perform all the light work without additional grain, 
but they will consume from one-and-one-half to one-and- 
three-fourths pounds of hay to 100 pounds live weight. 
Very little grain is necessary for idle mature stock. 
PRINCIPAL FEEDS 
Barley is much used throughout the West, due to the 
large yield to the acre, especially in the dry-farm sections. 
It is usually fed steam-rolled. Barley supplies large 
amounts of energy, but care must be taken in its feeding, 
as it is somewhat constipating, and when fed with wheat 
hay considerable trouble with impactions may be expected. 
