FEEDS FOR ANIMALS 73 



FAT IN A RATION 



Fat serves the same purposes as do carbohydrates. It con- 

 tributes to the production of energy, heat, and fat. It might 

 properly be asked, then, why feeds should contain fat and why 

 animals should have fat in their rations. 



Fat exists in several forms and has several distinct character- 

 istics. Oil is used in the bearings of machinery to keep them 

 from wearing out. It prevents friction. As grease, it is 

 used to prevent a wagon's axles from wearing out, and to pre- 

 vent unnecessary noise. Different fats have different melting 

 points. That is, it takes more heat to melt one than another. 

 The fat from a beef animal or a sheep is called tallow and it is 

 a solid under all ordinary temperatures. However, tallow 

 can very easily be melted or made into a liquid by setting it on a 

 hot stove in a dish. The fat from a hog is called lard. This is 

 solid under ordinary room temperatures but may become liquid 

 on a hot summer day. It takes less heat to melt lard than it 

 does to melt tallow. Consequently, tallow is said to be harder 

 than lard. It is also said to have a higher melting point. 

 Oil is a fat that is liquid under ordinary temperatures. The 

 fat of corn is called corn oil. The fat of flax is called linseed 

 oil. And the fat of cotton seed is called cotton seed oil. 

 Thus all plants and animals have a characteristic fat. The 

 cow and the pig may eat the same feed and the one will 

 make tallow while the other will make lard. This is done by 

 the metabolism of the animal body. If the mechanical 

 machine like the binder, the mower of the threshing machine 

 needs fat in the form of oil to keep the machine in better order 

 and keep it from wearing out, may it not also be assumed that 

 the animal machine needs fat to keep it in order? At any 

 rate, it must be assumed that as the all-wise Creator implanted 

 the need of fat in animals it must be given to them in their 

 feeds. The fat is needed to keep the animal body in order as 

 well as to supply energy, heat, etc. And does it not have a 

 lubricating purpose in the animal machine the same as it has 

 in the mechanical machine? 



Fat as a Laxative. — When an animal becomes constipated, 

 which means simply that the bowels do not move freely 

 enough, oil is given as a laxative. This facilitates the move- 



