Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-06

An extensive correspondence indicates
that large numbers OF mules suffer from
some form of indigestion Many OF these
cases are in their insipient stage. quite
amenable 10 treatment, and may De
cured with comparative ease proVldea
proper precautions be taken at the rlght
time Others are in an advanced stage.
and MANY OF them have apparently
reached the chronic condition. Il Is not
unusual. for instance. 10 learn OF case
where the animal is only five 10 seven
years old. but troubled with a capriclous
appetite and inability 70 assimilate the
food eaten properly As a result. the ami
nal is unable 20 stand hard and eontin-
nous work and its efficiency for work Is
materially reduced This IS a part OF
the price which is being paid BY the far
mer for ignoring certain well-defined
principles Of animal nutrition. the ooser-
vance OF which would enable him TO keep
MS animals in firstclass condition and
10 extend their usefulness as work ami
mails hy a period Of several years.
The troubles Indicated are due 10
variety Of causes. one OF which may De
Overlooking with certain materials and
undertaking with others TINS Is PROB
ably the cause OF more trouble than any
thing else as there Is a marked tendency
10 overfeed corn and some forms OF
roughness and 10 underfeed the protein
or muscIe-building elements. All ami
mails are given fixed habit Of life at
birth and il is impossible for them TO
depart materially therefrom- Neither
can they supply the bodily functions oy
substituting one material for another, es-
pecially when il does not contain certain
essential elements Another frequent
cause OF impaired usefulness in horses
and mules Is due 10 the failure TO feed
regularly and 70 give sufficient variety
20 the ration Improper watering IS also
a frequent source OF the trouble
There Is a great deal of waste in the
nutrition OF work stock. for frequently
more expensive foods are given than are
essential. IN other words. a farmer may
have a liberal supply Of corn on hand
and attempt to feed IL exclusively,
whereas the utilization OF some cotton
seed meal TO balance up the corn would
Be a much more desirable and profitable
practice Moreover. a ton OF corn could
be exchanged with material advantage
for a ton OF cotton seed meal when the
relative cost price Of each Is considered
and the ngtrftive value OF the respective
tons taken under Amusement II Is a
weIl-estabIIshed fact that animals ought
TO be fed according TO the kind and
amount OF work they are required to per
form Moreover. the rations should be
adjusted to the season OF the year since
Il is unwise 10 feed heating foods in the
summer. Attention 10 these points
would result in materially lesSening di-
gestive troubles now so commonly OBJ
served In passing. II is well 10 empha-
size the fact that animals should be
fed according 10 age. younger animals
requiring more protein OF muscie-building
elements in their food and larger sup
ply OF ash material than older animals
Since the young animal not only has 10
grow. maintain the body and perform
work. its ration should be more liberal
than that fed 10 older animals where
there IS only the necessity Of maintain
ing the body and performing work
such a great variety OF .foodstuffs are
available on every farm for the nutri-
ton OF the work stock that a little study
and effort on the part OF the farmer will
enable him 10 adjust rations which viii
be virtually ideal for the needs OF his
stock Systematic Investigations have
shown that good ration for a 1-Oc0
pound horse or mule doing hard work.
such as would be exacted Of them in
the preparation Of the land for planting
or the cultivation Of the crop, should
contain - pounds OF digestible protein.
rs pounds OF digestible carbohydrates
and 8 OF a pound OF digestive fat The
nutritive ratio. OF the relation OF ths d.
gestibIe protein to the carbohydrates and
tat wc..Id be e II should be remember
ed that a pound OF digestible fat has As
times the value OF a pound OF carbOhy-
drates. and the nutritive ratio is arrived
az BY multiplying the fat by this figure
and adding II TO the carbohydrates and
dividing BY the protein The average ra-
ton fed on our plantations Is about IL
pounds OF corn and Il pounds OF mixed
hay or pulled fodder. This ration only
contains about Ls3 pounds Of digestible
protein. AS pounds Of carbohydrates
ration is Isl u Is clearly deficient in
protein. though il contains about the
right proportion OF carbohyrates and fat
K might be assumed by the uninitiated
that Il would be a very difficult matter
70 balance up this ration and make IL
IDEAL for the nutrition Of work stock.
but such is not the case. for II the far
mer will replace but two pounds OF the
corn with two pounds Of cotton seed
meal he viii have secured a ration sat
isfactory for his stock and viii have re-
dured It's cost since he can supply the
needed protein much cheaper through the
purchase and utilization Of cotton seed
neal than through the use OF corn as its
present high price The addition OF the
two pounds OF cotton seed meal to the
: ration would result IN supplying a Loo
pound animal with "a pounds Of digest
fnIe protein as against 90 required by the
standard. II would also bring the car
hohyrates and fat in almost exactly the
ratio they should bear TO the protein.
the nutritive ratio being 1:63 OF almost
exactly what the standard calls for.
tainIy not. and il is needless TO say that