152 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



dueing mechanical work by means of the heat produced b}- the com- 

 bustion of the fuel. For the muscular activit}- of animals, however, 

 a more complex reason exists than the mere oxidation or combus- 

 tion of the fat, the phenomenon simpl}- accompanies more profound 

 changes going on in the body. The transformations that the albumi- 

 noids undergo in the bod}' seem to be the primaiy cause of mus- 

 cular power. This is practically recognized by the fact that animals 

 from which work is expected are fed with food more or less rich in 

 albuminoids. Oats are given to horses ; sometimes bean meal may 

 be mixed in the ration to increase the per cent, of nitrogen. A dog 

 fed with carbohj-drates and fat soon becomes obese and unfit for 

 active work. Feed one with lean meat, a substance rich iii albu- 

 minoids, and buoyanc}' of spirits and Strength are the result. A 

 large amount of muscular work cannot be expected from sickl}- or 

 emaciated bodies, the animal must not only be properl}' fed l)ut he 

 must be in a perfectl}' sound state of health and fully developed. 



A strong animal well feci with albuminous food is capable of per- 

 forming a large amount of work ; the ration must contain a proper 

 amount of albuminoids in order to admit of the transformations 

 which go on within the bod}' during its activity-. The ration should 

 also be as rich as possible in fats in order that the body may remain 

 in fine condition. It may often be necessary to add to rations some 

 food rich in fats. Oats, for instance, are not only quite rich in 

 albuminoids but contain al^o considerable fatty substance. 



Rations. 



Rations may be divided into two classes : 



1. Rations of maintenance or sustenance. 



2. Rations of production. 



By ration of maintenance, is meant the ration allotted to an ani- 

 mal to keep it in good condition without increasing its weiglit to any 

 extent, or of expecting of it any kind of production. For such 

 purposes the coarser kinds of food and those rather poor in albu- 

 minoids are often used. 



By ration of production, is meant a ration so constituted as 

 regards the nutritive principles that the animal is not onl}- kept in 

 good condition, but the amount of nutritive constituents over and 

 above that necessary to keep it thus is manufactured by the animal 

 into something of utihty. such as : fat, muscular force, milk, the 

 building up and developing of the young organization. 



