The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-09-18
WATER AND FOOD FOR HORSES.

Horses and cattle normally require,
in round numbers, four pounds Of water
for each pound of dry substance in the
food, while sheep require but about two
pounds, or half As much. This estimate.
the result of many careful experiments.
includes the water contained in the food
rs well rs that in the drinl The
amount of water needed by pig, MS not,
think, been accurately determined.
With horses we find 1 different digcs-
tive arrangemcnt-onc that changes the
conditions which were suitable for rum
inants TO 4 very important cX;cni.-
Horses have but one stomach. and that
relatively small. Il contains, when
fully diStcndcd, but fifteen. TO sixteen
quarts, and in this condition is too iull
for the performance of its functions
Usually. when digcsiing the food, the
horses stomach does not contain more
than ten quarts, and aS more food is
eaten some OF the contents pass onward
into the intcstines, TO make room for it.
In eating full feed of hay, the stomach
is filled two or three times, so that the
part first eaten can remain hu; short
time for digestion. Now, here is point
OF great importance. The albuminoids
OF the food are digcstcd in the stomach.
and Stomachful OF grain contains four
iosiN times IS much of these Is i stomach
ful Of hay. Consequently, for 4 sufii-
Gent quantity of gastric juice to be mix
cd with the grain and produce its full
effect, requires much longer time Than
with hay. Ii, then, we feed oats or
corn. and Immediately aftcrward hay. we
may be very certain that the grain will
be forced from the stomach before it IS
perfectly digcSted but if We feed the
hay first and then the grain. it is not
difficult to understand that the latter
can remain in the stomach suti'eicn;
time.
There is one advantage in mixing oats
or ground feed OF any kind with cut hay
or straw, and that is the more perfect
masticaiion which the animal gives in
this case but it is doubtful ii this adj
vantage holds good with cattle, rs they
dotnot chew their food pcrfecty when
eateasrie.src on the rumina;ion which
follows. In mixing feed for horses. We
should not put great amount of coarse
food with the grain, or We will give
more than the stomach will hold, and
the last portions eaten will force the first
ones into the intcSiincs before they are
thoroughly impregnatcd with the gastric
juice. Thus two pounds of oats are
about As much as should be fed 4, once
when mixed, and il more oats are given.
the hay should be decreased. For in
stance, five pounds of oats and one and
4 half pounds OF hay may BE- given.
Now, these facts will give u better
understanding of the effect of water on
digestion. If after feeding hay and then
oats we allow horse to take 4 large
drink of water, considerable part OF
the oats will be carried by the water in d.
to the intcstincs, and we get little of the
advantage of feeding the oats after the
hay. Ii such drink is taken soon al
eating hay alone, the effect will not be
so injurious, because hay does not need
so long time for digestion as grain.-
II only one or two quarts of water are
allowed, it will pass the food in the
stomach without changing lis position
toany great extent. When the stomach
has got rid of a considerable part nf its
contents, it seems difficult matte. for
it to force out the remainder. and fer
mentation and collie somcs;imc, result.
A drink of water at such time. by car
rying on the substance which has remain
ed long enough, relieves the condition.
This probably explains why some horse
Car companies have found i, advisable
to have their horses wa;ercd at mid
NATURALIZATION Farmer.