XI 
EXPERIMENTAL WORK ON COLT FEEDING 
At the Iowa Station, Wilson and Curtiss 102 conducted an experiment 
on feeding weanling fillies in which a comparison of whole grain with 
ground grain was the objective. Six imported fillies were used—two Per- 
cherons, two English Shires, and two French Coachers. The feeding 
period was 79 days. Two lots were provided for each consisting of one of 
each of the breeds. The two lots received the same grain feed composed 
of oats, shelled corn, barley, bran and linseed meal, but lot 1 got the 
ground feed mixed with a small amount of moistened cut hay, while lot 
2 received the unground grain preparation, dry and without hay. For 
roughage both lots were fed the same quantity of hay and stover. Salt 
was given at will. At the end of the experiment lot 1 gained 472 pounds 
and lot 2 gained 431 pounds, or 41 pounds in favor of the ground-feed 
lot. It is also claimed that the use of separator milk, which was used in 
the preliminary feeding, is a highlv satisfactory feed for colt raising. 
Another experiment similar to the above, or a continuation of the 
same test, was undertaken by the same experimenters at the Iowa Sta¬ 
tion. The same animals were used and they were again divided into two 
lots. But the experimental period was changed—two periods of 40 days 
each with an intermediate period of 16 days were provided. Lot 1 re¬ 
ceived oats, corn, bran, linseed meal, and cut hay, the grain being ground 
during the first period. To lot 2 the same feeds were fed but the grain 
w r as unground and the hay uncut. The lots were reversed during the 
second period. The gains during the first period were—lot 1, 149 pounds, 
and lot 2, 127 pounds, while during the second period lot 1 gained 108 
pounds and lot 2, 57 pounds. The results therefore corroborate the find¬ 
ings obtained from the original. 
It is pointed out that “An interesting feature brought out in these 
two experiments is shown in the amount of feed required for a pound 
of increase in weight at different stages in the colts’ development. From 
April 1 to May 18, 1892, growth w r as made by these colts at the rate of 
1 pound for each 7% pounds of grain, while in February, 1893, the same 
colts, stabled in the same stalls, and under substantially the same con¬ 
ditions, except as to temperature, required 11 pounds of grain for each 
pound of increased weight. The amount of hay eaten was practically the 
same this year as last. It is generally estimated that it costs more to 
winter a weanling colt than a yearling, and under average Western farm 
conditions this assumption is correct, but when this is the case it is prob¬ 
ably the result of the fact that the yearling colt is capable of making 
better use of the rougher and cheaper feeds of the farm, and not to super¬ 
ior digestive and assimilative power in utilizing feed of the best quality. 
The weanling colt requires palatable and nutritious feed of a high quality, 
and is capable of rendering a good account for such a ration.” 
At the Pennsylvania Station, Cochel and Severson 103 conducted an ex¬ 
periment on the developing of draft colts. Ten grade Belgian and Per- 
cheron colts and one pure-bred Percheron were used. The main object of 
the experiment was to determine the cost of raising the colt from weaning 
to two years of age, while other data such as feeds consumed and changes 
of form were also considered. No regular treatment was pursued whether 
in the feeding operations or in their handling. However, it is worthy of 
note to bear in mind the different feeds used, namely: The first winter 
the grain consisted of five parts shelled corn, 3 parts shelled oats, 2 parts 
wheat bran and 1 part linseed meal. One group received silage and hay, 
while another got only hay for roughage. The next summer the grain 
