The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-09-05
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 large ingredient. There
is also tendency towards using less nay
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 ami
NAL sooner, especially if worked according
to his strength. Those who feed hay har-
vested when well out of blossom, with one
feed day of early cut clover, or clover
and timothy 1.-THE proportion of the hay
somewhat lessened from the old system OF
feeding hay plentifully) J, and sufficient con-
centrated food, say oats and corn, the oats
predominating, seem to prove the best.
There will be the necessary strength and
activity. with better health and more SER
vice. The natural order will not be so far
departed from; the tender hay, of which
one feed is given, is but, in effect, con-
tinuance of grass or pasture to some ex-
tent; it has good influence upon the
bowels and the general health, which is OF
such importance that it canno 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 sum-
mer feed, is also too heating. Oats con-
tribute to mettle and endurance, yet not
in excess. All the desirable points are
furnished in this diet, without any bad
ones supervening. The matured hay
holds in check the tendency to free bow
els, which the cured grass or young clover
and the meal is apt to induce. In
a word, this diet produces a balance
and harmony. the result of which is health,
strength and activity. The horses are safe
with such regimen, which includes med
icine and food, and is simp.e withal. 1t is
less expensive, particularly the young ten
der hay, the properties of which are more
available than other dried food. The pro-
portion of this may be increased where the
horse is worked less, and thus still fur
ther increase the comparative cheapness.
Where much work is required, more
concentrated food must be given; in such
case also less green hay in proportion.
Green hay may be used instead of bran
mashes or physie, or turning to grass. lG
has the effect of keeping the system in a
sufficiently free or relaxed condition pro-
motive of health and strength at the same
time; and, as | have said, it is 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
milch cows, sheep and growing stock is
progressing it is more difficult to do it
with horses, especially hard-working
horses, as the prejudice is deep and strong.
But when it is once found generally that
early-cut and well-cured hay, including
clover, has an increase of available nutri-
ment, thus lessening the expense of keep
ing, less grain and less hay being required,
and the health and strength of the animal
improved, and when farther, the hay cut
ter and the wetting of the feed may be
mostly or entirely dispensed with-when
all this presents itself undeniably, the
reform will be effected.-Coust, q Gentle
man.