40 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



plasm). All common foods contain a certain amount of 

 water, which assists the animal in chewing the food. 

 When the food is too dry, it is necessary for the animal 

 to drink water occasionally to facilitate absorption of 

 the digested food into the blood, and the ejection of 

 waste substances from the body. 



Water is a wonderful regulator of the body tempera- 

 ture, because, when the body is abnormally hot, a large 

 amount of this heat is absorbed in converting the water 

 into water-vapour. The water-vapour then leaves the 

 body by the lungs in the process of respiration, as well 

 as by perspiration through the pores of the skin. On 

 the other hand, an animal drinking water at too low a 

 temperature may chill the body so severely, as to cause 

 colic, etc. This would apply more especially to work 

 horses. 



Bulky fodders and foods rich in albuminoids cause 

 animals to drink considerable quantities of water, and 

 as the water required depends on so many factors, it is 

 wise to let the animal determine the quantity required 

 for itself. It is generally safe to allow farm animals to 

 drink water at atmospheric temperature. 



Kellner found that for each 100 Ibs. of water drunk 

 and supplied in the food to a stall-fed ox, 46-3 per cent, 

 appeared in the solid excrement, 29-2 per cent, in the 

 urine, and 24-5 per cent, in the breath and perspiration. 



XI. COMPENSATING NUTRIENT MATERIAL, ETC. 



Nature has supplied the animal body with a wonder- 

 ful power of meeting emergencies. It often happens that 

 an animal is not receiving sufficient food for immediate 

 requirements. Well, how is this difficulty overcome by 

 the animal body? We have already seen that when 

 animals are fed in excess of requirements for keeping 



