Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-09-16
Water and Food for Horses.

Horses ALT; cattle normally require,
in round numbers, four pounds OF
water for each pound of dry substance
in the food. while sheep require but
two POUNDS, or half Gs much. This
estimate, the result of many careful
experiments, includes the water con-
tanned in the food, as we'll as that in the
drink. The amount OF water needed
by pigs has not been accurately deter
mined.
With horses we find different digest
i've arrangement-one that changes the
conditions which were suitable for ri
minants. to very important extent.
Horses have but one stomach, and that
relatively small. 1t contains, when
fully distended. bat fifteen or sixteen
quarts, and in this condition is too full
tor the performance of its functions.
Usually, when digesting 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 intestines, 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 but short
time for digestion. Now, here is a
point of great importance. The albu-
minoids of the food are digested
in the stomach, and rtomachful Of
grain contains fonr to six times as much
of these as stomachful of hay.
Consequently, for sufficient quantity
of gastric Juice to be mixed with the
grain and produce its full effect, re.
quires much longer time than with
hay. If. then, we feed oats or corn,
ard Immediately afterward hay, we may
be very certain that the grain will be
forced from the stomach before it is
perfectly digested; 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 sufficient
time.
There is one advantage in mixing
oats or ground feed Of any kind with
hay or straw. and that is the more per-
feet mastication which the animal gives
in this case; but it is doubtful if this
advantage holds good with cattle, as
they do not chew their food perfectly
when eaten, but rely on the ruminatiou
which follows. In mixing feed for
horses We should not pnt great amount
of coarse food with the grain, or we will
give them more than the stomach will
hold, and the last portions eaten will
force the first ones into the intestines,
before they are thoroughly impregnsted
with gastric juice. Thus two pounds
OF hay and four ponods of oats are
about as much as should be fed at
once when mixed, and if mere oats are
given the hay should b. decreased.
For instance. five p unds of oats and
one and half pounds Of lay may be
given.
These facts will give us better under
standing of the effect of water on di-
gestion. lf,after feeding hay and then
oats, We allow the horse to take large
drink of water, considerable part of
the oats will be carried by the water
into the intestines, and we get little of
the advantage OF feeding the oats after
the hay. If such drink is taken soon
after eating hay alone. the effect will
not be so injurious, because hay does
not need so long time for digestion as
grain. If only one or two quarts of
water are allowed, it will pass the food
in the stomach without changing its
position to any great extent. When the
stomach has got rid of a considerable
part of its contents it seems difficult
matter for it to force out the remainder,
and fermentation and collie sometimes
result. A drink of water at such time,
by carrying off the substance which has
remained long enough, relieves the
condition. This probably explains why
some tram car companies have found it
advisable to have their horses watered
at midnight.