Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1874 — Feed for Work Horses. [ARTICLE]

Feed for Work Horses.

Mature timothy and oats arc the usual food for working horses, and they do well upon it. Many substitute meal for oats, in which corn is a large ingredient. There is also a tendency toward using less hay and mbre strengthening food, as it is held that this gives more life and vigor to the horse. It also seems to wear out the animal the sooner, especially if worked according to his strength. Those who feed hay harvested when well out of the blossom, with one feed a day of early-cut clover, or cloter and timothy (the proportion of hay somewhat lessened from the old system of feeding hay plentifully), and sufficient concentrated food, say oats and corn, the oats predominating, seem to prove the best. There will be the necessary strength and activity, with better health and more service. The natural order will not be so far departed from; the tender hay, of whieh one feed is given, is but, in effect, a continuance of grass or pasture to some extent; it lias a good influence upon the bowels and the general health, which is of such importance that it cannot be ignored without disadvantage; there is also relief from the oppressed condition which the feeding largely of dry, ripe hay induces, and the fat, sluggish" habit produced by the large use of corn meal, which, as a summer feed, is also too heating. Oats contribute to mettle and endurance, yet not in excess. All the desirable points are furnished in this diet, without any bad ones supervening. The matured hay holds in cheek the tendency to free bowels which the cured grass or voung clover and the meal is apt to induce. In a word, this diet produces a balance and harmony,, the result of which is health, strength and activity. The horses are safe with such a regimen, which includes medicine and food, and is simple withal. It is less expensive, particularly the young, fender hay, the properties of which are more available than other dried food. The. propoftidnof /this""may be increased where the horse is worked less, and thus still farthef increase 4he comparative cheapness. Where much work is required more concentrated food must be given; in sueh cases also less green" hay in proportion; Green hay may be usedinstead of bran mashes pr physic,--or turning to grass. It has the effect of keeping the system-in a sufficiently free or relaxed ..condition, promotive of health and strength at the same time; and; as I have said, it is cheaper, contains about double the quantity of available nutrition which is found in old or ripe hay, such as is commonly used. The practice of feeding green (early cut) hay to milch cows, sheep and growing stock is progressing; it is more difficult to do with horses, especially hard-working horses, as the prejudice is deep and strong. But when it is once found generally that early-cut and well-cured hay, include ing clover, has an increase of available nutriment, thus lessening the expense of keeping, less grain and less hay being required, and the health and strength of the animal improved? and when farther the hay-cutting anti the wetting of the feed may be mostly or entirely dispensed with —when all this presents itself undeniably, the reform will be effected.—C<runtry Genflemgn. —The public debt of Mexico acknowledged by the Government, and inclu.ding the. amounts thus far awarded by the Mixed Commission, amounts to $11,464,273, which, divided among 9.000,000 of inhabitants, would h$ but $1.13 per head. <