The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-04-21
How to Feed Horses.


Having selected the food or mixture
OF food we propose to use, we have now
10 consider the form in which that foed
may be most advantageously gwen. 1t
comes to us in the ioim OF hay and grain,
and is open to TWO objections. The long
nay Is wasted by the animals allowing
portion OF it TO fall under their feet,
and the whole grain is liable to pass un-
dIgested through the almentary canal.
10 avoid these sources of loss, we ad-
wise that the hay be chopped and the
grain crushed. Experience enables us
TO say. positively that these operations
are productive Of no I'LL effects. The ad-
ditional expense they entail is many
times repaid by the prevention OF waste
In hay and the more complete digestion
Of all the grain eaten. IL has been OBJ
jected to these operations that they in
induce horse to bolt his food only halt
masticated.
We crush grain not to improve upon
mastication, not to save the animal the
trouble OF chewing his food, but simply
TO break the envelope and thus allow
easy digestion. We do not grind it to
powder, but are quite contented if il be
split. No doubt norses with good teeth
would give q good account Of most OF
the grain they are allowed, but we are
not satisfied to lose any, and therefore
we reduce all the corn to o form which,
while it might still be we'll mastieated,
is most favorable for digestion, to a form
in which, even should it escape the
teeth, il will not escape the stomach.
The cutting OF hay is advised for a
different reason. We do not suppose
its dIgestibiiity. We can cut IL to pre-
vent its waste in transit from granary
to pit, and in the stall, when the horse
pulls q mouthiul from the manger, but
principally 10 mix with the grain, so as
" compel the horse to thoroughly masti
cate the whole OF his proyender.
With long hay frequently portions
fall under loot, are trampled ON and
spollt; some horses, from mlsehief, will
fully throw their hay on The floor, and
Lhese little bits form collectively, in IA
large establishments, considerable
item. By cutting the hay this waste is
prevented, as the animal can only re-
move mouthlul at time. The length
OF cut is almost Immaterial. being equal
ly effective if cut 10 two inches, as cut
to a nalf.
Almost of more Importance than the
form in which the food is given, is the
frequency and regularity OF meals. The
norse's digestive organs are not con-
structed for long fasts. Long intervals
without food produce hunger, and num-
ger.begets voracity; food is bolted, and
lnuiges tton and colo follow. This is
doubly true and doubly dangerous with
horses doing hard work. They come to
their long-deferred meal not only hum
cry, but exhausted; not only is the food
Delted, but the stomach Is in such q state
as to be incapable of thoroughly active
digestion, and is overpowered by half
the amount OF iood it could 0therwis
easily digest.
The prevention of waste is almost at
| ta:1ed when we give proper form; but
there are two points TO which 1t is right
| to devote some attention--the form oil
the hangers, and attention to the
wants OF the individual animals. The
hangers should not be less than three
feet long, eighteen inches wide, and
twelve inches deep. They should have an
upper border Of wood projecting inward
Tor two inches, and transverse bar oi
l half-inch round iron across the middle
A piece of two-inch wide hoop-iron
screwed on to the top OF the manger
protects it from damage by the horses
teeth. This simple arrangement pre-
vents the horse from throwing out his
corn. and the provender is not in 81
thick layer as in the ordinary marrow
and shallow manger. - Michigan
Farmer.