Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-15
AGRICULTURAL
AEDUCATIoN !
80 SUCCESSFUL tARnINer
A8sEB ANDREW " SOUlE.
WINTER RATIONS FOR WORK STOCK

The season OF the year is at hand
when the farmer must depend largely on
stored feeds for the maintenance or his
horses and mules IL is naturally a mat
ter OF the greatest economic Importance
20 ascertain therefore the cheapest and
hest ration which he can use 10 keep
his animals I'm good condition and mt
for work at all seasons Attention has
been called on previous occasions 10 the
wide ariavtion in the cost OF different
rations. and the desirability OF provid-
ing a small amount Of succulent feed
throughout the wilmer season. This can
be done on any farm where winter
cereals are sown at the proper time
and the horses and mules turned out for
short periods TO Craze. In the late win
ire and early spring the green feed
NAV be cut and fed in the manger as
a soiling crop. On farms where silos
are maintained some silage may be
used throughout the winter TO advan-
taEe. 1t is very important to remem-
berA however, that the silage must De
properly preserved and made from fair
" well-ripened crops so as not to be
too acid. and be free from molds, and
under no circumstances attempt 70 feed
sflare 10 horses and mules which does
not fully meet these requirements.
SilaEe should only be fed in limited
quantities, the animals being started
on ration Of not over three or four
pounds per head per day This may be
Increased to eight or ten pounds as
the animals become accustomed to it.
For companion foods 10 feed with silage,
good. bright. clean mixed hay made
from crab grass. Bermuda hay, red top
OF orchard grass may be used TO al
vantage In its absence corn fodder,
.n~fsr n.y.
answer very well. and in some Instances
a limited amount OF huIls may be fed
HuIIs should not by any means con-
stftute the sole rOughness for horses,
however. and they should be fed as an
amendment TO the ration rather than as
the basis OF the rough food utilized. II
bulls are used IL is more important
than ever that some succulent feed be
provided through grazing crops or
siIage. Hulls and silage would not
make a satisfactory roughness for
horses There should be added to this
combination a liberal supply of good,
weII-cured slower. clover or mixed hay.
Soy beans or cowpeas may be used TO
supply a part Of the roughness. They
should not supply all OF it. however
as they are too rich in protein 70 be
used extensively with horses and mules.
The addition OF either OF these le-
gumes to the ration will improve II
materially and lessen the cost OF main
tensnce-
Molds sometime found in .eowpea or
soy bean hay are often detrimental
70 the health OF animals. and il is very
important that the feed used with
horses and mules be OF the best quail
fty. There are constant reports Of sic
ness and death in work stock which is
no doubt traceable to the character OF
the roughness used. for the proof OF
this is found in the fact that when its
use is discontinued and a good purga-
tive given most OF the animals recov-
er unless the case has become chronic
and a change in feed and treatment de-
ferrsd too long.
In Georgia considerable quantities OF
oats are raised and the practice OF
feeding corn ad oats as the grain "a
ton is making rapid development This
Is to be encouraged. OF course, but II
the farmer can utilize something in the
place OF the oats which will cost him
less and make the ration more desir-
able IL is important for him 20 be &C
uuainted with this fact.
In this connection il is interesting 20
note the results obtained in a recent
feeding trial with horses at the Penn
eyIvania experiment station Three