FEEDING HORSES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1156, 27 April 1894, Page 5

FEEDING HORSES.

Tho following excellent paper upon tbe feeding of horses was lead by Mr Von Amlen at the last meeting ot tho Wade Settlers' Association, No* South Wales : The necessary quantity and quality of food vary with tho ngo of the animals and tho relative amount of exertion they are destined to bear. In a natural state they subsist principally upon gruss, cereals being beyond their roach. Even in a state of domestication tho young auimal frequently attains the ago of lhive years before it receives any other food than tint ot grabs, with occasionally a small foddering of inferior hay. During severe weather in .the winter months mixed food is given, relatively rich in heat producers, to restore the daily waste of tissue, and build up the animal system in a healthy state*. Innutritions food overtaxes the digestive organs and generally results in stunted growth. Hay, bats, and beans have an established refutation as the best food for the horse. This holds good were speed and endurance aro the principal requisites, as in the case of the racehorse and the hunter. For slow work, such as that of the agricultural or dray horse, crushed incize corn is now extensively used until the youug animal has arrived at full maturity ; we prefer the use of oats and beans in moderate quantities. Greedy feeders swallow their food before it is sufficiently masticated, and the digestive organti are in : capable of acting on the food in a crude state, and of extracting its nutritive qualities. Whether, therefore, the animals are young or old, and what, ever the description of grain, it should ail be crushed. In common with all other animals, slow feeding is of importance to the horse, as it increases the secretion of saliva, which passing into the stomach accelerates the process of digestion. The food of the horse should all be prepared and given in a concentrated form, the hay, or straw, or better still, a mixture of both, should be cut into chaff and mixed with the crushed corn, and the mass macerated with water several hours before' being used. Bruised corn given alone frequently induces scorning. We have known this to occur when the grain has been mixed with chaff. VVheatmeal is sometimes used as food, but though nutritively rich, it is by no means a desirable food, as it has a natural tendency to form obstructions in the intestines. Barley is frequentlyused, but though rich in nutriment, it is inferior to oats. It is naturally of too heating a character, and animals fed upon it are subject to sudden attacks cf an inflammatory character, and also to surfeit and mange. A full sized agricultural horse at work on the farm will require I2lb of crushed oats and 30lb of hay chaff per diem. A better and cheaper food would be 91b of maizemeal, 21b of crushed beans or peas, and 2lb of bran per day together, with 161 b of hay. If tied up in stalls, they will require 12lb of wheat straw per day for litter. Horses are remarkably fond of raw potatoes. Their use is principally confined to the potato growing districts, where they are largely used in a boiled state, being then considered more nutritious. Swede turnips are a wholesome and valuable addition to the bill of fare. They are easy of digestion, and maintain the system in a healthy state. Carrots, in small quantities, are valuable in conjunction with dry food; though much relished, their use in large quantities is not desirable. As spring advances a change from dry to green succulent food exercises a beneficial effect on the health of the animal; but the change from one extreme to the other should be gradually accomplished. Bye, tares, clover, and Italian ryegrass

are the earliest and best varieties of green food. They should bo mixed with hay or straw, and passed through the chaffcutter. Except in the case of breeding mares and young stock, work horses are bettor and more cheaply summered in the yards. A less quantity cf food then suffices ; the animals rest better; und they thus es« cape the deteriorating effects of unrestrained freedom. The most economical ami wholesome food for an agricultural horso in full work is a mixture of maizemeal, bran, swedes, and cut chaff, one-third hay to two-thirds straw. 'J his mass should be prepared, watered, and carefully mixed at least one day before being used Tho ordinary weekly allowauce is 60II> msizemea), 20!b bran, and 1201 b chaff. During the winter months, if roots are plentiful, 61b to 101 b of sliced or pulped swedes may be given with ail vantage, Regularity in feeding and watering is of almost as great importance as who food itself. Long fasts are most injurious to the heabh of the horse. When the work is of such pressing necessity as not to admit of the animal being taken out and fed during the day, tho use of the nosebag should be resorted to. Irregular feed j ing is the cause of many of the ailments to which the horde is liable. The system of turning working horses out to grass during the summer months is an unsatisfactory and expensive practice. Ou tho majority of tillage farms there is generally abundance of straw. By the exercise of a little forethought a succession of green food, rye, tares, rye grass, clover, and trifolium can be grown. Ihe hard-worked horses kept in the yards will stand their work much better, and will convert a quantity of straw into valuable manure at a profit to the farmer. On all tho best managed farms very little long hay is now used ; nearly everything is passed through the chaffcutter. Even oats are now seldom used in a whole state f they are genera l ly paased through grinding mills. Used as a condiment, a small quantity of malt is beneficial. Linseed cake is too costly to enter into the dailv bill of fire.

Next to tho quality of the food, tho chief point which contributes to the health and comfort of the horse is the regularity with which he is fed. This should be done at fixed intervals, and these should be rigidly observed. . As a rulo the food of the horse is quickly digested, hence the utility of frequent feeding. Long fasts are apt to cause the horse to feed greedily, and are the frequent cause of indigestion, or stomach staggers. A lump of rocksalt should be kept constantly in the manger, or in some other convenient place within the reach of the horse. Of no lesi importance are the quantity and quality of the water with which they are supplied. Ihe horse, when in a heated state, is frequently injuriously affected when allowed to swallow a large quantity of water at a low temperature. The safest plan is to have a constant supply in a trough in the manger, to which they have free access at all times. Where this is so, we have never known any injury to arise. Here the natural sagacity of the animal is clearly shown; with the knowledge that it is at all times within his reaeh, he is careful not to take too much There is a considerable difference both in the temperature and quality of water. River or pond water, when tolerably free from organic imparities, is generally soft, palatable, and more conducive to health than that obtained from springs and deep wells, which is generally hard and cold, and charged with chemical elements contained in the rocks through which it flows. To a horse unaccustomed to it, hard water induces chilliness and colic, mid staring coat. All ponds or reservoirs for supplying stock should be fenced in, and kept clear from weeds and decaying organic substances of all kinds. Horses in a state of freedom naturally prefer soft water.

A correspondent of an Australian paper writes :—" Sheep can be fattened that are fluky by keeping them in welldrained paddocks (and this on flukeinvested country) by using the undermentioned lick : To every 2241 b. (bag) salt add 18lb. sulphate of iron, £lb. (powdered) bluestone, and 501 b. wood ashes (pine if procurable). This lick is also a preventive, and those who wish to get rid of the pest will find, by giving it to tho breeding ewes long before lambing, will check the ravages of the disease. The lambs will quickly follow the example of their mothers, and after a few weeks will go regularly to tbe trough themselves."