HORSE RATIONS: CONSERVING THE FODDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 10

HORSE RATIONS: CONSERVING THE FODDER.

Although we are not in the same unfortunate predicament as the horse-owners of Australia, yet are ample indications that if the present rate in the depletion of foodstuffs continues for any considerable period, farmers generally will be pushed in their endeavours to do justice to their stock in the late winter and spring. A tremendous amount of oaten sheaf is being cut into chaff, and also oaten and wheaten straw. The straw chaff is being exported to a great extent, while oaten sheaf chaff is net prohibited from export if for the use of the defence authorities in Australia. The price per ton remains high, and the effect possibly may be that we shall run ourselves short before next harvest. Under the circumstances mooted, farmers would do well to consider the question of mixture of grains, concentrates, straw, and, perhaps, molasses in order to eke out the probable shortage of feed in the country. The Director of Agriculture in South Australia, commenting on the shortage of feed, recently reported to his Government the necessity of conserving the -chaff with equivalent quantities of concentrates. He recognised that many live stock-owners know from experience in what proportions these concentrates can he fed to live stock. He summarised. however, for the guidance of the inexperienced, in as many combinations as possible, the various foodstuffs which were available in the form of rations respectively for heavy horses (15001 bor thereabouts) and for light horses (10001 b or thereabouts) : These rations are for horses wholly stabled, doing ordinary farm work, and are based on the following facts. I have assumed, on, data known to me, that a heavy draught doing ordinary farm work, will consume 561 b of good wheaten chaff in a day. and a light horse about 381 b. From a dietary point of view this as very far from a satisfactory ration. It is far too bulky, loads to the distention of the abdomen, and is not sufficiently rich in protein to make good normal body waste of tissue. The rations indicated below, while being all of better feeding value, are in other respects equivalent to 561 b and 381 b of good wheaten* chaff respectively, and at the present moment they present the additional advantage of being cheaper than wheat-chaff rations. Following are the combinations of foodstuffs referred to :

In these tables the value of the ration has in all cases been calculated on the fob lowing current prices :—Wheaton hay chaff, £l2 a ton; cereal straw, £6 a ton; lucerne hay, £8 10s a ton; molasses, £5 15s a ton; barley, 6s a bushel; oats, 5s 8d a bushel; bran, 2s 2d a bushel. Very naturally the values of the various rations will tend to fluctuate with the prices of foodstuffs current over the next few months. As already mentioned, each one of the rations given corresponds to a daily supply of or 381 b of good whoaten hay chaff. Hence, if personal experience tends to show that a' loss quantify of wheaton chaff meets the requirements of individual cases, the rations may be reduced accordingly, provided that the reduction is made proportional for each one of the constituents indicated. For those who have no" experience of grain feeding, it should be stated that it is, as a rule, preferable to crush slightly hard grain, such as barley. This is particularly necessary in the case of old horses, whoso teeth generally are more or less out of order. If the grain cannot_ conveniently bo crushed on the farm, soaking in warm water overnight may he recommended. Molasses should bo diluted with warm water and mixed with the coarse fodders ‘immediately before feeding. The daily rations indicated have boon worked out for horses that are being fed exclusively in the stable. It goes without saying that if, as is frequently the case, horses are turned out at night over passable pasture, the rations may be ‘reduced in proportion to the value of the pasture. At the same time it should bo borne in mind that a hungry horse that has to walk about all night in search of food cannot be expected to°do the same amount of work the next day ns a horse that is well fed and snugly stabled. Finally, by way of caution to the inexperienced, it should bo stated that very few animals arc able to take up suddenly

and without inconvenience a new form of diet. Horses hitherto fed exclusively, on wheaten chuff should not be given suddenly a full grain ration. If the change is led up to gradually ill effects will generally be avoided.

Heavy horses, Light horses, 15001b. 10001b. rt Constituents •_§ in ration. 1 L III t> cn” I •-£ 1 III 1. "Wheaton hay chaff lb. 56 s. d. G 0 lb. 38 s. d. 4 0 2. Wheaten hay chaff 15 — 10 — Barley 12 — 8 — Bran 10 4 1 1 7 2 91 3. Wheaten hay chaff 21 — 14 — Oats 12 — 8 — Bran 8 4 10 5 3 2i 4. Wheaten >fiay chaff 10 — 7 — Good cereal straw 16 — 10 — Barley 10 — 7 — Bran 12 4 41 8 3 0 5. Wheaten hay chaff 10 — 7 — Good ceveal straw 20 — 14 Oats 15 — 10 — Bran 5 5 0 5 2 52 6. Wheaten hay chaff 15 — 10 — Good cereal straw 20 — 14 Lucerne hay 6 " 4 — Oats 15 5 31 10 3 6| 7. Good cereal straw 30 — 20 — Barley 12 — 8 — Bran 12 4 41 8 2 102 8. Good cereal straw 30 — 20 — Oats 18 — 12 Bran 7 4 111 5 3 4 9. Good cereal straw 30 — 20 — Lucerne hay 12 — 8 — Barley 15 4 32 10 2 -L0o 10. Good cereal straw 30 — 20 Molasses .. 6 — 4 — Lucerne hay 9 — 6 — Oats 15 4 91 10 3 2 11. Good cereal straw 20 — 14 — Molasses .. 3 — 2 — Lucerne hay 12 — 8 — Barley 15 3 Hi 10 2 8 12. Good cereal straw 20 — 14 — Molasses .. 3 — 2 — Barley 12 — 8 — Bran 12 3 111 8 2 3