240 



VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



By either of these means the bushel is made to hold more 

 corn and thus weigh heavier. 



Methods of Feeding. — Oats are given whole or bruised, 

 the latter is essential for debilitated horses or those with 

 defective teeth, but for horses in good condition it is un- 

 necessary. Experiments show that no more is digested 

 whether crushed or uncrushed. 



The term ' crushing ' is an unfortunate one ; to really 

 crush corn is wasteful, for the flour separates from the 

 husk, and some horses get more husk others more flour 

 than they should. The term ' bruising ' should be used in 

 order to avoid the grain being flattened. 



Corn may be given scalded to the sick or debilitated, and 

 in the form of oatmeal is an excellent restorative to the 

 tired hunter, and nourishment to the sick horse. 



The amount of oats given daily depends upon the work 

 performed. Hunters and racehorses are unlimited, and 

 will average 16 lbs. a day, though individual horses 

 will eat more. Saddle and carriage horses from 10 lbs. 

 to 13 lbs. or more, according to their size and nature 

 of work. Large draught horses may eat as much as 

 18 lbs. of corn a day. In all these cases where the work is 

 hard, the corn ration alone is not depended upon, it is 

 always supplemented by beans. 



Oats* vary considerably in their chemical composition 

 depending upon the variety and soil. Here is an analysis 

 by "Wolff of an average sample : 



Water ... 



Proteids 



Carbo-hydrates 



Fat 



Cellulose 



Salts 



12-4 

 10-4 

 57-8 



5-2 

 11-2 



3-0 



Maize. 



This grain as a horse food has come largely into favour 

 within the last thirty years, and deservedly so. It experi- 

 enced, like most innovations, considerable abuse on its 



* For the digestibility of oats see the table on p. 107. 



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