Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-31

er the hurried preparation OF his land
On this account the strain upon his
work stock is unusually severe. and il
ne undertakes 10 maintain them in at
all good condition. they must OF neces-
sity be literally fed with a well bal
Rnced combination Of concentrates and
rOughness, or else they viii break
down under the physical strain i'm
posed There are some who seem to
believe that because their animals may
pass through a working season OF IN
usual severity without serious impair
ment OF their vitality that suggestions
OF this character are not well founded
In an investigation made at the Min
nesota experiment station. however,
with dairy cows, an attempt was made
70 keep these animals on a ration be-
low the normal in protein. The cows
continued 70 give 4 good supply OF milk
for rather a long period OF time, but
suddenly they began TO break down
physically, and presently all the ami
mails included in the test ceased TO be
OF value in the dairy herd and were
eliminated therefrom-
Is not this a familiar experience to
many Georgia farmers? How many
hundred mules in the state break down
each year and cease TO be Of value.
The change in their ability 10 serve the
owner comes suddenly in many in
stances. and is attended by the devel-
opment OF a great variety OF symptoms
OF unusual character. Blindness OF
temporary OF chronic nature is fire.
ouently met with, and competent vet
erinarians and other investigators are
OF the opinion that this is due in some
measure to overwork on an improper
~ balanced ration The facts in the
case Justify this conclusion, for at the
present time the great majority OF
horses and mules maintained in the
tirely too low in protein in view OF the
exacting work required Of them Sure
" some suggestions along this line are
therefore worthy OF the earnest atten-
ton and immediate consideration OF
the farmer. especially since il is pos
sIble to give variety and desirable
qualities to the ration at a pecuniary
advantage 10 the land owner.
There is no one best ration for
horses and mules since the cost OF
concentrates varies so widely in diff
ferent sections OF the United States.
Either corn or oats. however. viii con-
stitute the basis OF the ration in most
sections Corn IS fed much more large
" than any other crop and II is the
chief concentrate used in the south. Its
natural deficiency in protein elements
IS not recognized as widely as 1t SHOULD
be. and as a result soutnern farmers
are attempting TO maintain their worn
stock on ratIOns decidedly below the
normal requirements in protein In
other words. instead Of feeding 20
pounds OF this essential element, they
are feeding ordinarily about 1-S2
pounds. A nutritive ratio satisfactory
FOR horses and mules at hard work
would be one pound Of protein to six
pounds Of carbohydrates. The one or
dInarily fed contains about one pound
OF protein TO 81 pounds of carbohy-
crates
Can the existing situation be rene
died in a satisfactory manner? 1t GER
tainly can by simply adding reason
able amount OF cotton seed meal 10
the present rations being fed. The cost
OF corn is now alarmingly high, and
in spite Of the very considerable crop
produced last year. many farmers VIII
have 10 buy IL for at least four or five
months 1t will cost them on an aver
age. let US say. Of not far from s1.12
q bushel OF about cents a pound
ton will thus cost $40. 1t has been
shown by quite a number Of expert
ments that one pound Of cotton seed
meal will replace two pounds OF corn
A ton OF cotton sed meal will, there
fore. replace two tons of corn ton
OF cotton seed meal costs now abut
s26. and two tons OF corn not far from
$50 and certainly these figures are con-
sentative where corn is bought on time
as is often the case with the small
farmer. The present ration fed 20 work
stock consists OF about Il pounds Of
corn with mixed hay, corn fodder,
sorghum or pea vines. The addition of
two pounds OF cotton sed meal TO this
ration will bring IL up TO the stand
ard requirements in protein and reduce
the cost In fact. there is no reason
why horses and mules st excessively
hard work should not be fed as much
Il
per head per day along with IL
pounds OF corn and liberal supply Of
roughness. The three pounds Of cotton
seed meal fed viii take the place Of
six ponds OF corn The corn Will cost
about IL cents the cotton sed meal
e little less than 1 cents IL seasily
possible. therefore. to save cents on
the daily cost OF the ration and mate
rally improve Il by using cotton seed
meal which costs only s26 per ton
Unless the animals are doing unusually
severe work. il will not be advisable.
10 fed more than two pounds OF cot
ton seed meal. as theer may be dan
ger OF ssrfeiting the system with pro-
tein. but in this case the difference in
favor OF the use Of the cotton seed
meal as compared with corn would
still be a little more than cetns.
Five cents per day for 40 days, or
until the next corn crop is ready for
use. is IS. A man who has several
head OF horses and munles to feed can
save this money and improve the ef-
hciency OF his ration by using cotton
seed meal. lengthen the service Of his
animals and provide for their physical
welfare. Surely Il is the part Of wis
Dom TO take a suggestion OF this kind
under serious consideration.
The farmer may find il somewhat
tedious to attempt to weigh out a
tally ration Of the concentrates men,
toned in the portions suggested. It
Is not necessary for him 10 do this, /
however. II IS a simple matter TO
mix together Zoe pounds OF cotton seed
meal and 500 pounds of corn and cob
teal OF course, the cotton seed meal
nav ne mixed with 500 pounds of
whole corn. but IL will be better to
Grind the corn and mix the two ito
tether. Where corn and cob meal is
fed Il is important that IL be ground |
nnely. as the particles Of cob might /
otherwise prove somewhat Irritating to
The digestive tract There is a differ /
knce in price between ton of corn
and cotton seed meal at present Of
about s1A The cotton seed meal con- |
lairs more than four times as much /
hfResffhle urOfefu as the corn. Pro- /