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THE ROTHÀMSTED EXPERIMENTS:

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THE ROTHÀMSTED EXPERIMENTS: PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR FARMERS, C. J. R. TIPPER, (jFellow Highland and Agricultural Society, dkc.) VIII. HORSES Feeding of Horse.-XC(e8.rity for Supplying Dry Concentrated loods-A Popular Falacy in Feed- ing- Varia.tion of Feeding according as Animal i. Working or Idle-Dangers of Over-condition. In concluding the present series of articles, we have to consider the feeding of horses viewed in the light of the Rot hams ted Experiments. Though taken last, the subject is by no means least in importance indeed, in some respects it is greatest, as it affects not only farmers and tradesmen, but 'bus, tram and railway companies, as well as those who keep horses for pleasure. The object in view in feeding is entirely different from that aimed at with other farm stock. In the latter case, exertion is avoided as much as possible, and the food is so arranged as to fatten the animal in the most economical manner. In the case of the horse, however, increase in weight is not an object, but the point is so to feed as to keep the animal in the best condition for enduring exertion in other words, to feed for the output of muscular work. The old idea which governed the feeding of animals was that the harder an animal worked the more were its muscles used up. This was the reason why athletes ate lean meat and similar food, to make good the muscular waste. The notion has long oeen exploded in the athletic world, but it has dictated, and does dictate, a great many of the rations used by farmers in this country. They do not feed lean meat, but food equivalent to it is largely fed, and the greater the exertion to whk:h the animal is subjected the more albuminous the diet. To this end oats and beans form a large portion of the rations given to farm horses throughout the country. The actual amounts given vary with different districts, higher feeding being probably the rule in the North, but a not uncommon ration will be one and a half stones of oats per day with hay and straw, some of the oats being commonly substituted by beans, say 13 lbs. oats, 5 lbs. beans, 15 lbs. chopped clover hay with straw, and when on pasture h stone of oats per day, this ration being considered suitable for horses at work. Probably this will be thought high, and in many places only half that amount of beans would be given, and some of the hay would be replaced by mangels or swedes but for all that it is a typical example of the principle upon which rations are generally arranged-the supplying of material for wasted muscle. This view of the production of muscular work was long ago questioned by Lawes and Gilbert, and since then it has been proved to be entirely wrong. The fact is the muscles are somewhat like engines—that the force required to move them is not derived from their own wear and tear, which is comparatively small, but by the burning up, not of coal but of food and the foods which are best fitted for this, and consequently to enable a horse to do his work most economically, are not those rich in albuminoids, but in non-albu- minoids-oil, starch and sugar. The practical man will immediately say "But there must be wear and tear of the muscles when they are used." So there is. The muscles need repair like any other machinery, and for that pur- Kse a certain quantity of albuminoids is necessary, t beyond that it is no more economy to specially feed muscle-forming foods when extra labour is required than it would be to feed iron bars into the furnace of an engine, as the additional exertion can best be met by an increase in the oils or fats and sugars of the food. This simile is not 8cientijiwlly accurate on account of the many points of difference between the animal body and an engine, but it illustrates the point in question. If then we suppose a horse at rest receiving a sufficient maintenance diet, the amount of food will require to be increased if we put him to work, but for increase pure starch or oil would do very well, as has been amply proved by experiment. What will, however, appeal more strongly to the practical farmer is the experience in this matter of tramway and'bus companies throughout the King- dom. It has of course been the object of these to get the most work out of their animals at the least expense, provided that they are kept in good con- dition. In the United States there are hundreds of horses used in this way which get nothing but good nay ana maize uuring tne time they are undergoing hard work. The hay supplies the necessary albu- minoids, and the maize the fat and starch. We do not say that this is a feed to be unreservedly re- commended it has too much maize in it for our liking, but it shows how increased labour may be sustained by extra food of a starchy or oily nature, and it must be remembered that maize is the cheapest grain in the market. Here, however, are a few examples taken from the daily rations of large horse-keeping companies, given in the Rothamsted Report in the Highland and Agricultural Society's Transactions. North Metropolitan. Liverpool. Glasgow. -lbs. Ibs. lbs. Beans 2 4 0 Oats 3 0 6 Maize 13 12 11 Hay 9 14 8l Straw 3 1 Bran I Straw There are certain companies who use more beans and oats than are here given, but the tendency is all in favour of increasing the amount of maize when the animal is at work. Here is an example of a ration used by the Paris General Omnibus Company, the amounts given being approximately correct in our system of weights. Oats, 81bs. Maize, lOJlbs. Hay, Silbs. Straw, 811bs. In these cases we have rations derived from com- bined experiment and practice with hundreds of horses, and arranged with the idea of producing work in the most economical way; and they are, therefore, worthy the consideration of every practical man. For a horse at rest, or taking but little exereiae, a diet of 181bs. of hay or (say) lOtbs. of hay and 41bs. oats, would be amply sufficient; if he were at full work it would require to be increased by at least 10lbs. or more. If hay alone be the chief mainten- ance, and maize the extra, we have a diet very like that used by the American companies; while, if oats and hay are used in conjunction with maize, we have a ration similar to that employed by several English companies. circumstances would dictate to the practical man the most suitable food, taking into considera- tion price, etc. but the point to be emphasised is that if the resting diet is a sufficient one, as in good pasture grass, there is no gain in giving beans and peas, or other food, containing a large propor- tion of albuminoids in addition, if the animal is put to work indeed, the giving of these foods in quantity is not only unnecessary, but is in some cases dangerous. We constantly hear of horses being injured by over-feeding, and it is said that in the Lowlands of Scotland large numbers of horses are killed every year by too liberal rations. We should be inclined to think that the real cause is feeding with food containing too great a propor- tion of albuminoids, rather than the mere fact of giving too much corn, though this is far from im- possible. The maintenance diet given is sufficient for an average horse, but would not be enough for a large horse, which would require several pounds more hay but a horse on pasture will always eat sufficient to support itself, except in heavy work. Once a maintenance diet is fixed, the extra food can be regulated according to work, and risk from over-feeding minimised. There is a caution necessary in connection with these results. If a horse is getting old, or if it is over-worked, less maize and more oats or beans may be given with advantage, as over-work to some extent destroys the muscles. In addition, the results are true only for horses which are matured or nearly so, not for those which are still growing. A horse at light work at two years' old, or heavier work at three, and which is still growing, would not be suitably fed by such a diet as many hard-working tram horses get. It must have much less maize and more muscle and bone-forming food-oats, beans, and bran, with Rood hav, in order to ensure its thorough develop- ment. So long as the animal is growing, the great object in feeding must be to ensure its proper development, and this must be kept in view from the first. Forcing is not desirable, but, on the other hand, steady progress must be made, and there should be no stinting of food. Linseed cake, oats, beans, and good hay can all be used to eupplement the pasture when the foal has been weaned, and cut swedes may be given in winter. The care and attention bestowed on the feeding and rearing will be amply repaid when the animal is sold or comes to be used on the farm. As we have already quoted the companies who employ large numbers of horses with regard to the most suitable rations for working horses, we may again make use of their experience in reference to the preparation of foods. They have found it economical to feed cut fodder and ground or bruised grain, for with uncut hay and straw more was required, and with whole grain there was con- siderable loss by reason of the food passing un- digested through the system. In actual experi- ment it was shown that 161bs. grain (ground), 7 cut hay, and 21 cut straw, was equal to 191bs. of unground grain and 131bs. uncut hay-and the horses did equally well on the diet. Though adopted by many farmers, there are several districts where long hay isstill fed from over- I head racks, and unground grain given, but if the experience of these large horse-keepers is to go for anything, the former method should be used where- ever a number of horses are kept, if only on the score of economy. The ground grain is mixed with the cut fodder, slightly damped, and the mixture is fed in a manger. By this arrangement not only is the overhead rack done away with, but the mixing of the ground grain with the chop ensures its thorough mastication, and helps in its digestion. Cooking is not to be recommended in the general preparation of food for horses. Potatoes are steamed before use, and boiled barley is a very good food for horses out of condition through bad teeth, but cooked food, as a rule, has a bad effect. A horse should never be watered immediately after being fed. When a horse drinks, the water does not remain in the stomach, but passes immediately into the bowels. If, then, when a horse has eaten freely, and the stomach is full of food, it is allowed to drink, the water washes some of the food out of the stomach before it has been properly digested, fermentation sets in, and derangement of the bowels, and even death may supervene. A highly fed animal often gives trouble when allowed to rest at the end of the week after having had a full week's work. The legs swell and become tender and stiff, and there is evident inflammation. On account 'of its generally appearing after the rest at the end of the week, it is known as Monday morning evil. The best way to avoid this is to limit the food given after work has ceased, and to give on Saturday night a bran mash with a little saltpetre in it. This has a relaxing effect on the bowels and kidneys, and prevents the disease where there is liability. Many farmers give a bran mash regularly on Saturday night, even where there has been no sign of the complaint, and find it a capital thing for keeping the animals in good health. There should usually be a little rock salt within reach of the horses, as they like to lick it, and in small quantities it seems to have a very beneficial effect. [THE END.]

--RHUDDLAN PARISH COUNCIL.

THE CURE OF CONSUMPTION.

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