44 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



fed. The chief food elements in foods are known as pro- 

 tein, carbohydrates, ether extract and ash. They also 

 contain more or less water according to the kind of the 

 food and the stage of maturity at which it is fed. Each 

 of these food elements has a distinct mission to perform 

 in the sustenance of the body. Protein, for instance, is 

 .chiefly concerned in producing flesh and the vital fluids of 

 the body, carbohydrates in producing fat and heat and 

 ether extract in producing fat. These foods are fed in 

 equilibrium when the components which they furnish 

 are in exact proportion to the needs of the animals to 

 which they are fed. For instance, the protein in the 

 food is in equilibrium when it is present in sufficient 

 quantity to meet the exact needs of the animals to which 

 it is fed with reference to flesh production. Carbohy- 

 drates are in equilibrium when they meet exactly the 

 needs of the animals with reference to heat and fat pro- 

 duction. Likewise fat is in equilibrium when it properly 

 fulfils its mission and the same is true of ash when it 

 properly furnishes the elements for the growth and sus- 

 tenance of bone. These are also in equilibrium when they 

 bear a relation to one another resulting in the most 

 economic use of each. 



It is very apparent, therefore, that when these food ele- 

 ments are fed out of balance waste must result. For in- 

 stance, should protein be fed in excess, the amount fed 

 in excess of the needs of the animal would be wasted. 

 The same would be true of the other food elements, for 

 the system can only appropriate so much ; any amount 

 fed beyond this will not be utilized. 



The danger is also present that there will be one-sided 

 developments where protein is fed in excess, the muscular 

 development will be in excess of the development of fat 

 and bone in the growing animal. When carbohydrates 

 are fed in excess muscular development will be arrested 

 by an excess of fat production. When ash is fed in ex- 

 cess, bone development will be out of balance. Results 



