American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-08-15
Feed for Work Horses.

Mature timothy and oats are the usual
food for working horses, and they do well
uponit. Many substitute meal for oats,
in which corn is large ingredient. There
is also tendency toward using less hay
and more strengthening food, as it is held
that this gives more life and vigor to the
horse. 1t also seems to wear out the
animal the sooner, especially if worked
according to his strength. Those who
feed hay harvested when well out of the
blossom, with one feed il day of early-cut
clover, or clover and timothy (the proper
ton of hay somewhat lessened from the
old system of feeding hay plentifully), and
sufficient concentrated food, say oats
and corn, the oats predominating, seem
to prove the best. There will be the
necessary strength and activity, with bet
ter health and more service. The natu-
raj order will not be SO far departed
from; the tender hay, of which one feed
is given, is but, in effect, continuance
of grass or pasture to some extent; it
has Il good influence upon the bowels
and the general health which is of such
importance that it cannot be ignored
without disadvantage; there is also relief
from the oppressed condition which the
feeding largely of dry, ripe hay induces,
and the fat, sluggish habit produced by
the large use of corn meal, which, as Il
contribute to mettle and endurance,
yet not in excess. All the desira-
BILE points are furnished in this
diet, without any bad ones supervening.
The matured hay holds in check the
tendency to free bowels which the
cured grass or young clover and the
meal is apt to induce. In a word, this
diet produces balance and harmony,
the result of which is health, strength and
activity The horses are safe with such
a regimen, which includes medicine and
food and is simple withal. 1t is less ex-
pensive, particularly the young, tender
hay, the properties of which are more
available than other dried food. The
proportion of this may be increased
where the horse is worked less, and thus
still farther increase the comparative
cheapness. Where much work is re-
quired more concentrated food must be
given; in such cases also less green hay
in proportion
Green hay NAV be used instead of bran
mashes or physic, or turning to grass 1t
has the effect of keeping the system in IL
sufficiently free or relaxed condition.
promotive of health and strength at the
same time; and, AS l have said, it is
cheaper contains about double the guam
tity of available nutrition which is found
in old or ripe hay, such as is commonly
used. The practice of feeding green
(early cut) hay to mich cows, sheep and
growing stock is progressing; 1t is more
difficult to do with horses, especially
Woodworking horses, as the prejudice is
deep and strong.
But when il is once found generally
that early-cut and well-cured hay, includ-
ing clover, has an increase of available
nutriment, thus lcssening the expense of
keeping, less grain and less hay being re-
| quired, and the health and strength of
| the animal improved, and when farther
| the haycutting and the wctting of the
| feed may be mostly or entirely dispensed
| with-when all this presents itself undc-
| niably, the reform will be ef1ccted.-C0ua-
| ,ry Gentleman.