2 BULLETIN 929, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PREVIOUS EXPERIMENTS IN FEEDING COTTONSEED 

 MEAL TO HORSES. 



Iowa State Bulletin 109 reports results of feeding trials lasting two 

 years and in which concentrated feeds rich in protein were substi- 

 tuted for oats in rations for work horses. Among the conclusions 

 drawn is the following : 



" The health, spirit, and endurance of work horses were the same when fed 

 corn with a moderate amount of * * * cottonseed meal as when fed a corn 

 and oats ration, supplying a similar nutritive ratio. 



North Carolina Station Bulletin 215 reports the results of experi- 

 ments conducted to determine the possibility of using cottonseed meal 

 successfully in rations for work horses, the form' and combination 

 in which it may best be fed, and the harmful effects, if any , resulting 

 from its use. The author states that in each case where cottonseed 

 meal was fed the coat of the animal became smoother and glossier 

 than usual, that the spirit and endurance were not lessened, and that 

 at the end of the experiment no harmful effects could be found as a 

 result of feeding the meal. Farmers are advised not to feed draft 

 animals cottonseed meal to the extent of more than 10 to 15 per cent 

 by weight of the total ration. 



The North Carolina Station Eeport for the year 1916 states the 

 results of feeding cottonseed meal to work horses and mules at the 

 Iredell, Pender, and Edgecombe substations. It was found that : 



While cottonseed meal can be used in very limited amount, we can not, as a 



rule, induce a horse or mule to use more than 1 pound a day for any length 



of time. This 1 pound, however, has proved to be an economical addition to 



» the ration and has also had much to do with maintaining the horses and mules 



in better condition. 



THE EXPERIMENTAL FEEDING. 



OBJECTS OF EXPERIMENT. 



The objects of the experiment were : 



1. To determine the value of cottonseed meal as a partial sub- 

 stitute for grain in a ration. 



2. To determine the amount of cottonseed meal which can be fed 

 with safety to work horses. 



HORSES USED. I 



Sixteen horses were used in this experiment. With the exception 

 of 4 purebred Morgans used for riding and driving, they were pure- 

 bred and grade Percherons. 



Of the 16 horses, 7 were not fed any cottonseed meal, thus acting 

 as check animals. Where horses worked in teams it was planned to 



