Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-22
THE RATIONAL FEEDING OF
THE HORSES AND MULES

Geoergia farmers have approximately
Coo Invested In horses and mules
These animals constitute one of the most
imlortan1 assats OF the state. for they
r~s,rrsent the motive power for breaking
the soil and cultivating the crops grown
thereon. Upon their efficiency as work
animals depends much OF the success at
tanned By our farmers. The care, feed
ing and management OF these animals
is. therefore. a matter Of great public
concern, for ii is quite evident that their
skiiiful management adds greatly 10 the
service which they may render and pro-
longs their life activity by several years.
II Ia natural to suppose that an invest
ment OF such proportions be watched
over with zeaious care. but this would
hardly seem TO be the case IL any re-
liability may be placed on the statistics
Of funds reported as expended for the
purchase OF horses and mules IN Geor-
gfa supposedly tc replace those which
have passed their period OF usefulness. Il
Is said that s12Ooo.0o is annually expend-
ed for the purchase Of this class Of farm
stock n Georgia. No doubt this repre-
sents a number Of animals sold through
local markets as Atlanta. for Instance.
10 be shipped 70 other states. and II Is
apparent that a larger number OF work
animals are being used on our planta-
tons than was formerly the case The
expenditure OF all this sum. therefore.
does not represent the replacement OF
losses in this class OF live stock. though
undoubtedly q part Of Il is attributable
to this cause II is probably safe 70 as
sumo that the loss OF horse and mule
power from Indifferent feeding and bad
measurement amounts 60 several million
dollars a year.
without criticism. the apparent motto
OF the Average man has been that the
horse and mule as a beast OF burden. and
therefore time OF EFFORT expended in &C
curing q knowledge OF his bodily 1unc-
tons and OF feeding standards adapted
to his needs a waste OF energy. There
sn an old adage 70 the effect that money
saved Is money made" and IL Is un-
doubtedly true IL the leaks on our plan
fntions, Of which this is one OF the most
KlnrinK, were stopped. as they could De
by a little care and attention TO what
have been I'D 70 this time regarded as
useless details. millions OF dollars would
become available for investment in the
state. Surely. II half the money now ex-
pended for horses and mules could De
saved. the undertaking is vel worth
while Surely. II a part OF the money
nov sent out OF the state for foocstuns
No letter than these produced At home
ness policy As a matter Of fact. the
irrational feeding OF horses and mules
may result in losses in a variety OF
WAYS. and some OF the more important
Of these are summarized below.
Hundreds OF letters received at the
state College OF Agriculture indicate.
fsrxt. shat large number OF horses and
mules suffer from various forms or in
digestion. In many Instances the trou-
bic has become chronic There - nothing
calculated to impair the usefulness OF
an animal so quickly as digestive trou-
HES In fact. when these disorders be-
rome aggravated and chronic they fire.
ouently terminate IN lives of animals
prematurely.
second. digestive troubles reduce the
seacfencv Of the ration. no matter how
carefully IL may be prepared Natu-
rally. the cost Of maintenance Is IN
creased to . considerable extent III
the added cost amounts to only one
cent per heal per day, considering the
number OF horses and mules IN the
state. IL would represent a useless
waste OF several thousand dollars
Third. there is frequently an un-
necessary waste OF money due to the
purchase OF expensive roughness ana
concentrates produced In other states
under the impression that they are de-
rfrable or essential TO the proper nutri-
ton Of this class Of stock
Fourth. no regard is paid TO adjusting
the daily ration 20 the character or
class OF work the horse or mule - ex-
pected TO perform
Fifth. undertaking and overfeedlng
are both fruitful sources Of loss
Granting the authenticity OF these
assertions. the rational feeding or
horses and mues becomes matter OF
vital concern to every one interested in
the handling OF management OF WORK
stock The correction OF a defect In
practice can only be achieved through
a complete understanding OF the under
wing principles involved IL Is well.
therefore. 20 consider the objects which
should be kept in view IN feeding the
classes OF live stock under discussion
These include. first. feeding for main
tenance: second. for the performances
OF work. and third. for fattening- When
an animal is fed for maintenance, the
object is 70 keep IL in a normal state
OF health. but neither gaining nor los
inw. It Is useless to feed a horse In
the stall the same ration during the
winter season. when IL may be iAe for
anrs az q time which II should be given
and requires when performing heavy
work Overseeing during an idle pc
Rod Is q frequent cause OF indigestion
Besides. from i've to ten cents day