The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-11-12
Agriculture.
RoUeHAeE FEED FOR HORSES

We're we 80 ask what feed should
he given t. farm horses and road
sters. the reply would invariably be,
"Tiuothv hay and corn and oats" So
mi gersal is this practice, it has be-
oome considered almost the only
rule
But while such ration is good, it
does not necessarily follow that it is
the only one to feed. II one cares
nothing for the expense and cost of
feed, all we'll and good. The ma
jority of the farming class, however,
must consider the financial side and
the feed ng of all farm animals so as
TO produce the best results through
least cost of food. We have paid
much attention TO cattle feeding and
sheep and vine feeding, but most
of Us are inclined TO hold on to the
proverbial timthy-oorn- oats ration
for horses.
Are there substitutes for timothy
hay fer feeding farm horses? At
present prices we have several rough
age feeds that may be used in place
of timothy, among the many are the
following important ones: Corn
stOver, COW pea hay, and clover hay.
The first named is an universal
crop in America, and of it want to
speak Few of US realize the feed
ing Importance of this crop. In the
South and West we waste corn stover.
In the East we raise only enough for
the siIO. What are the results? We
are obliged TO feed a high priced
food stuff in form of timothy, that
has had a commercial value during
the past two years of $50 a ton
throughout the Eastern and South
ern States.
Now, if the reader will follow me
Twill mention the results of an ex-
pertinent conducted by the writer
while connected with the New Hamp
shire Experiment Station. The ex-
periments with feeding horses ex-
tended through a period of two
whole years and during the whole
time all feed was weighed each horse,
ss we'll as the water consumed. The
horses we're weighed twice each
week so as to have the whole facts
complete. We long recognized the
high value of corn stover as a food
for all kinds of cattle, but gave it no
attention as a horse food To com
pare it's value with high quality
timothy hay, a part of the 1899 corn
crop vas cut and dried in the field,
and after being husked the stOver
was taken to the barn and stored.
The stover was then run through the
ensilage cutter and taken to the
horse barn, where it was fed in COM
parison to timothy. The experiment
lasted from January 26th until April
9Th. Four horses were used: one
was fed timothy, corn and oats; a
second horse, corn stOver, corn and
oats third, timothy, corn and bran
and fourth corn stover, corn and
bran. Thus we compared the hay
and st0ver when fed with two differ
ent grain rations. And in both cases
the corn stover proved of equal value
to timothy hay and was furnished at
but fourth the cost.
When we consider the relative
values of timothy hay and corn
'tover, commercially, we will realize
thel how important that the latter
be utilized whenever it is available.
We can grow from three to five tons
Of dry matter in form of the corn
plan per acre, but scarcely couple
Of tgDs per acre in form of timothy !
bsy.
tat- gives a double reason for a
mo- extended use of the corn plant.
Lar the city fellow pay twenty dol |
lar Ier ton for timothy hay if he
Tx ut let the farmer grow plenty
l, and then by use of the cut
eT shredder prepare the stover
'oE aarse feed, which he can use
VII there is no excessive hard
8o1 and he will feed the farm
eo-s,7 at an expense equivalent to
oul "gtle over half as much as when
I'm. ny is used.
word to the wise is enough"
CHARLES w. BURKETT,
81. g. Experiment. Station.
instantly commands US to pass