Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-12-25
From the Farmers Cabinet.
CORN-COB MEAL.

SIR,-As the question of the value Of the
cob in feeding, when ground with the corn,
is gain coming into consideration, perhaps
the following extract from stewards Stable
Economy" might go far to decide ii, in the
minds especially Of those who know that the
cob is equal in quantity to the corn-the only
consideration which is necessary in the pre-
sent stage Of the question on some future
occasion, it may be shown that the cob itself
is fully equally in quality TO the same quantity
of oats for this purpose.
"Condensed food is necessary for fast
working horses; their food must be in less
compass than that of the farm or cart horse,
but to this condensation there are limits.
Grain affords all, and more than all, the nu-
triment a horse is capable of consuming even
under the most extraordinary exertion his
stomach and bowels can hold more than they
are able to digest !; something more than nu-
trment is therefore wanted, for the bowels
must suffer moderate degree of distension,
more than wholesome allowance of grain
can produce they are very capacious; in
the dead subject more than 80 gallons of
water can be put into them; and it is thence
evident they we're not intended for food in a
very condensed form, for it seems natural
that they require moderate degree of pres
sure or dilation to assist their functions, they
must have something TO act upon. Now,
when hay is very dear and grain cheap, it is
customary in many stables to give less than
the usual allowance of hay and corn, but the
alteration is sometimes carried too far, and
is often made too suddenly: the horses may
have as much as they will cat, yet it does not
suffice without fodder, and, having no hay,
they will leave the grain to eat the littex a
craving sensation ofemptiness seems to arise
and the horse endcavors to relieve it by eat
ing straw. The sensation cannot be that O
hunger, else the horse would devour his corn
but whilst he has plenty of grain and plenty
of litter, the diminished allowance of hay i.
born with impunity. But when sufiiciency
is not obtained in any shape, the horse lose.
appetite and becomes emacitated his bowels
: are confined, his flank is tucked up, and hi
; belly almost disappears; in general he drink
little water, and when lie takes much he j
apt to purge. His belly is often rumbling
the bowels apparently containing larg
+, quantity of air, which occasionally produce
: colicky pains these horses are very liabl
! to crib-bitng and wind-suckng, and il is Ger
tain that these diseases are very rare amongs
those that live on bulky food.
When the ordinary fodder is very dear, il
place must, therefore, be supplied by som
S other, which will produce wholesome dis
!, tension of the stomach, although it may nc
t yield so much nutriment: straw, roots, eithe
or both, may be used IN such cases; tn
i IL, i A. 4. l.. 4
g forts to eat his litter, show that his food is nc
: Of sufficient bulk to sustain nature in her ope
i rations. And when work demands the US
of condensed food in horse that has bee
IA accustomed for some time to bulkier article.
c the change must be made by degrees and wit
;, the greatest caution remembering, tia
G coming from grass or the straw yard, tn
! horse, for time, requires more fodder tina
e would be proper or necessary to allow him /;
Z: his work, after season.
c Now, it would appear that the cob, groun
G with the corn, would be just the proper guam
" tity of fodder for mixing with the corn, tn
c condensed food, for almost all purposes an
i nothing, surely, can be mingled with it NOR
: readily and conveniently, or so profitably a
e the cob, which, at the same time, saves II,
J. expense of Smelling. When, therefore, tn
n philosophy of the arrangement comes bette
is to be understood, we may expect that to grin
IS the cob with the corn will be the gener;
practice, for the feeding of stock of all des
!, criptions. B. ID.