132 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 200. 



E. Oat Feed for Horses. 



Oat feed has been fed to a pair of farm horses, Joe and Chub, at in- 

 tervals for a period of five months, beginning in early May. The horses 

 had been used for digestion work during the winter, and it was necessary 

 during the early spring to bring them on to a full day's work by degrees. 

 They were employed in plowing, harrowing, drawing manure, mowing, 

 and in similar work for nine hours daily during five and one-half days in 

 each week. 



The oat feed was substituted for the hay, at first in the proportion of 

 5 pounds, and later 6 pounds, daily. 



The "grain mixture" consisted of 10 pounds of cracked corn, 1 pound 

 of wheat bran, and 1 pound of cottonseed meal. The object of feeding 

 the cottonseed was to furnish some extra protein in the ration, and to 

 note if any objectionable effect occurred from its use. The wheat bran 

 was used not only for its nutritive value, but because of its gentle laxative 

 effect. 



Table XIV. — Daily Rations consumed (Potinds). 



The table shows that each horse received daily 12 and 11 pounds, 

 respectively, of the grain mixture of corn, cottonseed and bran. This 

 amount was divided into two feeds, and given in the morning and evening. 

 At noon each horse received 5 pounds of oats. From May 3 to June 13, 

 inclusive, Joe received daily 15 pounds of hay and no oat feed, while 

 Chub received 9 pounds of hay and 5 pounds of oat feed. From June 14 

 to July 11, inclusive, the conditions for the coarse feed were reversed, 

 Joe receiving the hay and oat feed and Chub the hay only. Conditions 

 were again reversed July 12-August 8, and again August 9-Septem- 

 ber 12, so that during each period from May 1 through September 12 

 one of the horses was receiving hay for roughage and the other a Umited 

 amount of hay and 5 or 6 pounds daily of the oat feed. The latter was 

 weU moistened before being fed, and given in three portions. The horses 

 objected a httle to the oat feed at first, but soon learned to eat it readily. 



