180 



THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



duced with advancing age, and as far as the albuminous tissues are con- 

 cerned this faculty is all but lost (Fig. 86) in mature animals. 



Regarding the nature of the food supply, the suckling has all the ad- 

 vantage as compared with the mature animal. Milk requires no work 

 for mastication, it is readily and completely digested, and contains all 

 the necessary nutrients in just the proper proportions. Compared with 

 these conditions, the food supplied to mature animals always requires 

 more or less work to accomplish proper mastication, and contains a 

 considerable proportion of nutrients difficult to digest and of low avail- 

 ability. In the feeding of young or growing animals it is of the highest 

 importance to provide a sufficient supply of food, so that the natural 

 course of development may in no way be interrupted, particularly since 

 the results of neglect in this matter can never be overcome by subse- 

 quent efforts (Fig. 86). The capacity for growth diminishes with ad- 



Fig. 86. Pigs of the same litter: Berkshire sows. To the left, starved in youth; to the right, 



fattened in youth. Farrowed Dec. 9, 1910. Fed under identical conditions from Dec. 9, 1912. 



Photographed at same distance from camera Nov. IS, 1912. (From Nathusius.) 



vancing age and at a certain period it is completely lost. Futhermore, 

 our methods of feeding must be directed according to the character of 

 work or service expected of the growing animal in the future. 



Meat-producing animals must be well fed even in the fetal stage of 

 development, followed by an uninterrupted supply of rich food from the 

 time of birth to maturity. In the feeding of young meat animals the 

 problem is not confined to the question of how to put on a maximum 

 amount of fat (as is the case with fattening mature animals), but rather 

 to the question of how to utilize to the fullest extent the animal's natural 

 capacity to put on flesh. The solution of this problem depends upon an 

 abundant supply of albumen, as demanded in the different stages of 

 growth and development. 



Males intended for breeding should be well nourished but not fattened. 

 This applies to a somewhat minor degree to animals intended for milk, 

 muscular energy (work) or wool production. 



