Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-02-08
Horse end Colt Feed.

mi To begin. it is essential i'll order to
obtain the greatest growth for the least
outlay that all grain should be fed
bruised and in conjunction with cut Or
chopped hay. A hay cutter should form
q part of every farms equipment. "A
large bin should be constructed III the
main floor of the feedhouse.
The grain grinder may be set Oh
the ground floor, as the ground feed
ID more easily handled from the mill
than the cut hay. Hay cutters are
operated at such high speed that unless
there is a hole in the floor, through which
the machine may be relieved of its pro-
duct by the simple force of gravitation,
Of time ensues. 1t pays the owner of
d large number of horses to grind his
own grain and cut his own hay. Either
u tread power, sweep power OF a small
engine may be used to advantage, the
engine being the most convenient. Bran
also should be largely used in compound
ing a ration for young, growing horses
or brood mares, and at its present prices,
$12 to 1913 per ton, it is economical food.
ALI lCGtl1AS tlIC toltS tIIp obJEtb 10 w lio
duce bone and muscle.
Ground oats and barley are the best
muscle makers and fed with cut hay
bran and a little linseed meal will give
very satisfactory results. The last named
food is, as is we'll known, a %byproduct
Of the linseod oil mills and can be OBJ
tanned at Il very moderate figure. A
pound per day for each colt will, il the
course of the winter, add greatly tC the
nutriment derived from coarser grains
and keep the colt S stomach in good con-
dition. 1T must be laid down as beyond
the possibility of contradiction that to
Il stint the colts or brood mares i'll their
feed because grain is high in price is a
suicidal policy and one the effects of
which will be felt OIL the farm for many
a long season. For this reason TIC
economy is in feeding i~udiciously. This
Is achieved by feeding the colts % ration
of ground barley and oats, bran and cut
hay. The mass should be slightly damp
ened, but not fed sloppy by any means.
In the coolest of the winter days some
ground corn may be used i'll place OF
one Or other of the grains mentioned. 1t
makes a change, and being heating may
be used to advantage for a few days.
Roots should be fed in abundance,
both boiled and raw. Rutabagas, tur-
nips or carrots are all keenly relished by
horses and have a very beneficial effect
on their stomachs. To the evening feed
III some boiled roots may be added and fed
n regularly with great relish. Rutabagas
are the best for this purpose. Carrots
"a also do very well cooked, but as they
" are very ~palatable a few fed raw with
a the morning or noon ration form a wei
N come change, This year the feeding Of
n wheat to horses has become somewhat
NJ general, and if the present prices of this
n great staple product are to remain below
III go cents it may be that it will come into
N general use as a horse food. 1t is not
likely that wheat will ever be used by
itself, either ground or whole, as a horse
4 food, but it may be that it can be profit
ably fed in conjunction with some Of
the other feeds we have mentioned. An
abundant supply of roughage should be
given the colts, and the greater the va
riety offered them the better progress
will they make. With weanlings the
racks should not be stuffed full and the
colts left to work away at them for days
until they get them emptied. A well
bred weanling is a dainty feeder, which
/ fact should be noted and taken advan'
tage Of in this way. II a little hay is
given them often, they will eat more Of
1t, as 1t viii! not be breathed ON and
pulled about as it is if a lot of it is left
with them for any length of time.
Nicely cured corn fodder, cut at the
right time and not too coarse, is readily
eaten by all horses, and If run through
a shredder and stored in the barn is E
most economical food. Prairie or ever
marsh hay makes an appetizing change
from the regulation timothy, and goot
FIRST crop clover may be fed with tn,
very best results to colts Of all ages
/ Horseman.