TREATMENT OP BREEDING COWS. 247 



more general use of salt very important and beneficial in its 

 action upon breeding stock. When salt is used for any animal 

 producing milk, care must be exercised not to allow it to be 

 taken in such quantity as to check the production of milk; for 

 a free supply would speedily stop this secretion. 



"The general system of diet must also be looked upon, as 

 taking its share in influencing the reproductive functions. When 

 the fall of rain has been small, and the herbage more than 

 usually parched, we find unusual difficulty in getting ordinary 

 farm stock to breed. A dry dietary is very unfavorable for 

 breeding animals, and very much retards successful impregnation. 

 On the other hand, rich, juicy and succulent vegetation, is very 

 generally favorable to breeding. Apart, therefore, from the 

 direct influence of the food given, it is certain that the condition 

 in which it is consumed, materially influences the breeding powers 

 of stock. 



"Little is as yet definitely known as to the comparative influ- 

 ence of different kinds of food upon breeding animals ; but the 

 information we possess, leads us to desire further evidence. 



"We know that the healthy semen of male animals, with few 

 (if any) exceptions, contains a large proportion of albuminous 

 matter, in the form of vitellin and albuminate of soda; and it 

 follows, as a natural consequence, that unless these bodies are 

 present in the food, although they may for a time be supplied by 

 exhausting the animal system, still, his career cannot long be 

 maintained without prejudice to the animal, and disappointment 

 to the breeder. 



"The presence of phosphorus is also essential; and it has been 

 observed that food rich in phosphorus, such as the leguminous 

 seeds,* hay, grass, corn fodder, &c., are especially valuable in 

 promoting the fertility of breeding animals. 



* Indian corn, oil cake, and all oily grains are " fatty." Peas, oats, barley, rye and 

 buckwheat, are more albuminous, producing muscle, and lean flesh. L. F. A. 



