OVERFEEDING HORSES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XV, Issue 4673, 21 May 1890, Page 4

OVERFEEDING HORSES.

An English veterinary surgeon recommends that those who have charge of borse3, especially farm horses, should be taoght that the stomach of a horse is not liko tho rumen cf a cow, a mere receptacle for food, but an essential organ of digestion of limited opacity, which does not need to be crnmmod in order to oerform its proper functions, and that it cannot be so treated without danger to the animal; that the teeth of tho horse are provided for tho purpose of masticatlog the food, and that tho food which does not require mastication should be sparingly, if ever, uietl. He further recommends that no horse be put to work immediately after a full meal, and where a horse has done a heavy day's work it shonld be allowed to stand in the stable until it is cool and comfortable before being fed. A little water miy be given, and if a little good hay be put into the rack it will occupy his attention, and besides requiring further mastication will further have the effect to sligh'ly stimulate tbo stomich to secretion and prepare it for the reception of the feed which 13 to follow. Should a horse require more food than usual to supply :ho extra waste of tissues caused by hard work, give it by all means, but let it be In excess in ita albuminoids, and let the horse be fed oftener, and not in increased quantities at a time.—Firmer.