Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-09-22
COLiC.
Its Causes In Horses and Mules-Remedies
and P~reventives.

Its Causes In Horses and Mules-Remedies
and P~reventives.
Bulletin No. 20 from the agricultural
college of Mississippi by DR.. TAFT Butler
treats of the auses and remedies of collie
in horses and mules. Its chief points are
the following:
Nineteen out of every twenty cases of
collie are chargeable to irregularity in
food or water. The rules for watering
are:
Use only pure water.
Water before feeding.
Water frequently (from three to five
times daily.
Never give a large quantity at one
time, especially if the animal is very
warm or about to undergo severe exer-
ton.
The quality and quantity of food and
the regularity with which it is given are
OF the greatest Importance. Oats are the
best grain for horses or mules, though
corn is more commonly used in this
state and is a good food if used with dis
erection. Oats are better because they
are more easily digested and possess the
essential constituents of a good food III
better proportions, and therefore, by
throwing less work on the digestive or
gans, are less liable to cause indigestion
and colo. They should he dry, clean
and free from must. If cut before they
are too ripe, their value is greatly en-
HANGED. While corn is a fruitful u
OF colo, yet it is a good food for working
stock, but should be fed with caution.
Oats and corn may be fed whole to a
grown horse while his teeth remain good,
but for colts and old horses they are bet
ter If ground. Bran, linseed meal, etc.,
if fed in small quantities and with other
foods, are beneficial in keeping the bow
els loose and in good condition. Almost
any of the varieties of hay in common
use may be fed with safety if they are
cut before becoming too ripe, are well
cured and free from mold. New hay
should never be fed to working stock, as
it is very apt to cause arrangement of
digestion, and so cause collie. The GUAM
tity of food to be given must depend
largely upon the amount of work re-
quired from the animal and his individ-
ual ~peculiarities. From four to eight
quarts of oats, or from 8 to Is ears of
corn two or three times daily are about
the proper limits. The quantity of hay
required is usually from 10 to 20 pounds
daily.
If a horse is required to do more work
than usual on a given day, it is a COM
mon custom to give him more food. This
is a great mistake. Owing to the fatigue
consequent to the increased exertion. the
animal is less able to digest q large feed
and therefore should be fed less instead
of more. Again, it is decidedly i'm
proper to give a horse a large feed, espe-
cially of corn, Immediately after under
going severe exercise. If a large feed
be given Immediately before active en-
ercise, the blood which is required by the
digestive organs in order to carry on
their proper functions goes to the mus
cular system, digestion is impaired, and
collie is a possible result. If a large feed
be given Immediately after active or
prolonged exercise, the animal is weak,
and the blood is drawn upon largely for
the rebuilding of the muscular waste.
and the digestive organs suffer accord
ingly.
A change of food should he made with
caution. II q change must 10 made, a
smaller quantity of tho new food should
be given for several days, and the
amount increased gradually. In no case
should a change of food and work be
made ut the SAM time. A good rule is,
never give a horse Il full feed on n change
OF work, nor full work on a change Of
feed.
Instead of feeding q large number Of
mules together, giving the grain in large
quantities and using foul water-and