Jasper Republican, Volume 2, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1875 — Wet Versus Dry Feed for Horses. [ARTICLE]

Wet Versus Dry Feed for Horses.

A writer in the Live Stock Journal states that feeding dry meal has been highly recommended, and I have tried it faithfully, but am not satisfied with the results; I had rather put the meal in a pail and mix it with water. When horses are obliged to work very hard it is not only right and just but for the pecuniary interest of their owners to see that they are well fed. Horses- ought not only to have good food and plenty of it but also it should be given to them wet. A great many horses are permanently injured by being kept in the summer, when they work, upon dry hay and meal Just what injury will result from this course of feeding cannot certainly be foretold. Whether it will take the form of derangement of the digestive organs or affections of the throat and lungs will depend somewhat upon the natural tendencies of the animals and the quality and condition of the food which they receive. Rut injury of some kind will likely result. It is but little trouble to wet the food, which will render it better and safer than to feed it dry. For a horse that is at work most of the time cut feed is the best that can be given. But if the hay is not cut it pays to throw on a little water. All horses must not be fed in the same proportion, without regard to their ages, their constitution and their work, because the impropriety of such a practice is self-evident. Yet it is constantly done and is the basis of diseases of every kind. Never use bad hay on account of the cheapness, because there is no proper nourishment in it. Damaged corn is exceedingly injurious because it brings on inflammation of the bowels and skin diseases. Chaff is better for old horses than hay because they can chew and digest it better. When a horse is worked hard its food should be chiefly oats; if not worked hard its food should chiefly be hay, because oats supply more nourishment and flesh-making material than any other kind of food. The better plan is to feed with chopped hay, because the food is not then thrown out and is more easily chewed and digested. Sprinkle the hay with water that has salt dissolved in it, because it will be pleasing to the animal’s taste and more easily digested. A spoonful of salt in a bucket of water will be sufficient. — N. F. Herald. —The passage of the University Education bill in France has led to the formation of a league in Italy for obtaining freedom of education. The promoters of the league are the members of the Young Men’s Catholic Association. At present lay education is under State control.