Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17
Feed for Work Horses

Mature timothy and oats are the usual feed
for working horses, and they do well upon it.
Many substitute meal for oats, in which corn
is q large ingredient. There is also a tendency
towards using less hay ana more strengthening
food, as it is held that this gives more life and
EigOr TO the horse. 1t also seems 10 wear out
the animal the sooner, especially if worked ac-
cOrding TO his strength. Those who feed hay
harvesting when well ont of blossom. with one
ted day of early cut clover, or clover and
timothy (the proportion OF the hay somewhat
lessened from the old system of feeding hay
beautifully, and sufficient concentrated food,
say oats and corn, the oats predominating, seem
TO prove the best. There will be the necessary
strength andiactivty, with better health and
more service. The natural order will not be 40
far departed from; the tender hay, of which
one fed as given, is but, in effect, a continu-
ance of grass or pasture to some extent; Ii has a
good influence upon the bowels and the general
health, which is of such importance til at il can
not be ignored without disadvantage; there is
alfo 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 aSummer feed
H. also too heating. Oats contribute TO mettle
ard endurance, yet not in excess. All the de-
sir8ble points are furnished in this diet without
any bad ones superveniDg. The mstured hay
ho'd III check the tendency to free bowels,
which the cured grass or young clover and the
neal is apt TO induce. In a word, this diet pro-
duces balance and harmony, the result of
which is health, strength and activity. The
horses are safe with such q regimen, which in
cudes medicine and food, and is simple withal
IL is less expensive, particularly the young ten
der hay, the properties OF which are more
available than other dried food. The proper
ton of this may be increased where the horse
is worked less, and thus still farther increase
the comparative cheapness. Where much work
Is required, more concentrated food must be
given: In such case also less green hay in pro-
portion.
Green hay may be used instead of bran mashes
or physc, or turning to grass. 1t has the effect
of keeping the system in a sufficiently free or
relaxed condition, prOmotive of health and
strength at the same time; and, as / said, il rs
cheaper, contains about double the quantity 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; it is
more dfficultt to do it with horses, especially
hard-working horses, as the prejudice is deep
and strong. But when ii lie once found gener-
ally that early cut and well cured hay, includ-
ing clover, has an increase of available nutri-
ment, thus lesseniDg the expense of keeping,
less grain and less hay being required and the
health and strength of the animal improved,
and when farther, the hay cutter and the wet
ting of the feed may be mostly or entirely
dispensed with-when all this presents itself
undenisbly, the reform will be effected.-CoHn-
try Gentleman.