The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-01
I EM)anaV VlEW)ffegEFARnER,) ,)

Rations for Farm Horses and Mules.
 By far the most commonly used ra- tions for horses and mules in Alabama consists of corn and corn blades or fod- der. This ration l. slightly deficient in nutritive material and muscle foem- CTS and would be greatly ic,pr"vcd by the addition of other foods wbish arc rich in this material. for example groundpeas. cowpeas. cowpea hay, al- faifs. hay. etc. Corn is an exrensts e foo5 in most parts ,i Alabama, and the ration can be greatly reduced by the partial substitutes for this grain.
 In the Central Prairie region, the most advisable change consists in feed ing largely on alfalfa hay and in re- ducfng the corn to about half the usual ration. This can be done without det- rfment to the weight and condition of the animals For example, during the early part of the present year, the mules on the Canebrake Experiment Station at Uniontown, Ala, while do- ing the usual heavy work of bedding, received only ten ears of corn per day with as much alfalfa hay as they could consume. Regular weighings showed that they kept in excellent condition when thus treated. Indeed, their con- ditton was such that Mir. J. M. Rich ardson, who had immediate charge of the experiment, concluded 1t was worth while to attempt to feed working mules entirely on alfalfa hay. Hence the second experiment was begun, and from April 18th to the time of oat harvest, about June 1, these mules, while do- ing the full quota of farm work were fed exclusively on alfalfa hay. Reg fular wefghings again showed that they were none the worse for this change in their food. After the 1st of June the ffeeding of alfalfa was continued, but after this time feed of oats was giv- sen about every third day. It is ad- of the ration be made up of either corn tor corn stover or oats or other car- bonaceous material.
 A bulletin recently published by the North Carolina Experiment Station 8hould be of special interest in this connection. While 1t Is true that the plumber of animals in the experiment was so small that no very definite con- iclusions could be drawn, yet the results are highly suggestive. In this test farm teams were fed for about two and one-half months in summer a daily balance of two pounds per head of cot ton seed meal and no injury was ex- perfenced. One of the most satisfac- tory rations fed consisted of twenty one pounds of corn silage, fifteen pounds of corn, two pounds of whe |. bran and one pound of cotton seed meal. this being the daily ration for each mule.
 Ground cowpeas proved a satisfac- tory substitute for both oats and wheat brain. Wheat bran was substituted for oats as part of the grain ration with out detriment. The substitution of cowpea hay for part of the grain ration greatly reduced the cost. It mas been the experience of farmers in Ala bama and other Southern States that Q crop can be made on a surprisingly small amount of corn when the barn Is full of a good quality of cowpea hay.
 Dat hay was fed with very satisfac- tory results. and during the idle month of winter corn stover was a satisfac- tory material for rough feed. Some Of the daily rations fed satisfactorils. were the following:
 Ftrst-10 pounds corn and cob meal: l5 pounds cowpea hay.
 Second-5 pounds wheat bran, 10 pounds corn and cob meal, one pound cotton seed meal. 10 pounds oat hay.
 Third--4 pounds wheat bran, 2 pounds cotton seed meal, 10 pounds corn and cob meal. 15 pounds oat hay.
 Fourth-15 pounds cowpea hay, 21 pounds ear corn
 Fifth--S pounds corn and cob meal. pounds ground cowpeas, 19 pounds meadow hay
 Winter ration-10 pounds corn and cob meal, 1 pound cotton seed meal. 10 pounds corn stover.
 At this season of the year 1t is well Tor the farmer to bear. in mind that he has at hand in green sorghum a food which is highly appetizing if tu. diciously fed. safe for horses and mules when the season of heaviest work is passed. Indeed. some farmers report excellent results from feeding green sorghum during the heaviest work However in feeding it at this time. and Indeed at any time, care should be taken as to the amount fed and care also taken that the ration be not too carbonaceous. For example it should not consist of merely sorghum and corn Sorghum is carbonaceous in composi tion--that is, of a composition oppo- site to that Of alfalfa hay. Hence, In combination with alfalfa, sorghum makes well-balanced ration. though on account of the bulk these two hays need to be supplemented by grain for heavily worked teams. The grain may be corn or oats or any other usual con centrated horse food.
 J. F. -J.