CHAPTER XIV 



FEEDING THE STOCK 



Reasons for Feeding Stock. We all know that 

 farm animals should be fed, well fed, but we do not all 

 know exactly why they need feeding. Some of the 

 reasons were mentioned in the last chapter. Let us 

 name them all now : 



1. To repair the waste. 



2. To build up the body. 



3. To keep the body warm. 



4. To furnish energy for the body. 



5. To make special products milk, eggs, wool and 

 the like. 



Repair of the Waste. As the horse works, and the 

 sheep or cow walks about in search of food, or even in 

 the ordinary functions of life, the animal body is con- 

 tinually wearing away. What child has not noticed 

 the horses grow poor during the "spring work" or ob- 

 served that he himself has lost weight after great 

 exertion! This loss in weight is the waste that must 

 be repaired, and for this repair food is necessary. For 

 this very reason farmers always feed their horses more 

 when thev work them hard. 



