MEAT PRODUCTION 457 



cold air and thus greatly reduces the protective effect. A wind- 

 break, therefore, may have a distinct economic value in stock 

 feeding. 



543. Insolation. The effects of the weather are appreciably 

 modified by the exposure of stock to direct sunlight. Aside from 

 any direct effect of the light as such, a not inconsiderable amount 

 of heat is imparted to the body by the sun's rays. During cold 

 weather this is likely to be a distinct advantage, but during the 

 hot months the reverse is true. Since the animal cannot re- 

 duce its heat production below that resulting from its internal 

 work and the digestion and assimilation of its feed, it may se- 

 riously tax its powers to dispose of the additional heat imparted 

 by the direct sunlight. In this case shelter of some sort may 

 be required for opposite reasons to those obtaining during the 

 cold months. .For similar reasons a supply of cool, fresh water 

 and exposure to the wind may be of great advantage in helping 

 the animal to get rid of its surplus heat. 



Other conditions 



544. Exercise. The well-known fact that muscular exer- 

 tion is accomplished at the expense of the katabolism of tissue 

 and ultimately, therefore, at the expense of the feed, would seem 

 at first thought to indicate that the activity of the meat-produc- 

 ing animal should be restricted as much as practicable. In the 

 case of the growing animal, however, another very important 

 element enters into the case, namely, the fact that moderate 

 exercise tends to stimulate the growth of the muscular system, 

 or, in other words, the production of lean meat. Since this is 

 the essential object sought, a normal and reasonable amount of 

 muscular activity on the part of the growing animal should be 

 allowed and encouraged, even though the muscular exercise 

 involves the consumption of more feed. Accordingly, young 

 stock should be given the freedom of the pasture or range to 

 as great an extent as practicable, while at the same tune care 

 should be taken to supply abundant feed containing a sufficient 

 supply of protein in order that enough material may be present 

 to supply the demand for growth stimulated by the exercise. 



In the case of breeding stock, especially, a most important 

 consideration is that of the health and stamina of the animal, 



