MANUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDIISTG. 413 



The desirability of tlie more higUj nitrogenous diet 

 here recommended for heavily worked horses is indicated 

 by practical experience. 



Importance of Fat. — What has been said in regard to 

 the importance of fat in the food of working animals is 

 especially applicable to the horse, and it can hardly be a 

 matter of chance that the oat, which is regarded as the 

 natural food of the horse, is distinguished from other ce- 

 reals by its richness in fat. This fact must be borne in 

 mind in attempting to replace the latter, either partially 

 or wholly, by other feeding-stuffs. 



The carbhydrates can, it is true, take the place of fat to 

 a certain extent ; but it may be questioned whether they 

 always suffice, and in any case the fat of the food must 

 add to the supply of respiratory materials, and thus be of 

 value, especially in severe work. 



Kinds of Feeding-stuffs. — The feed of the horse ordi- 

 narily consists, as already said, of hay and oats, though 

 various attempts have been made, with more or less suc- 

 cess, to replace the latter by other feeding-stuffs. 



Exclusive hay-feeding is still less adapted to horses than 

 to ruminants, since, as we have seen, the amount which 

 the former can eat is comparatively small, amounting to 

 barely 23 pounds per day and 1,000 pounds live-weight, 

 and containing 20 pounds of dry matter. Ilence the ne- 

 cessity of adding some concentrated food like oats to the 

 hay becomes self-evident, 'and is rendered even more so 

 when we consider that the digestive power of the horse 

 for certain ingredients of coarse fodder, notably crude 

 fibre, falls below that of ruminants. 



