FEEDS AND FEEDING. 



391 



Function of Ash or Mineral Matter. All the bones 

 and framework of the animal body contain ash or min- 

 eral compounds. The blood, tissues and the digestive 

 fluids require mineral compounds for their existence. 

 It is fortunate that nature has supplied sufficient min- 

 eral matter in most of the feeds that animals live on. 

 It is only necessary to furnish mineral compounds when 

 a diet consisting chiefly of grain is fed. Animals could 

 not live without mineral matter. Such substances as 



DAIRY CATTLE CONTAIN MORE WATER THAN FAT BEEF CATTLE. 



common salt, wood ashes and precipitated chalk, are 

 sometimes fed in conjunction with other feeds to supply 

 the needs of growing animals. 



Function of Protein. Protein is the main constitu- 

 ent of muscles, horn, hoof, hair, ligaments and working 

 parts of the animal body. The protein substances are 

 in reality the flesh formers. Protein bodies repair the 

 broken down tissues, help form blood, and milk. 

 When animals are fed protein in the right proportions 

 they possess great vigor, and without protein the animal 

 would die. Sometimes protein can be made to take the 



