58 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



this way an increase in the consumption of food and result- 

 ant products from the same is secured. 



The human family tire of foods that furnish no change, 

 even though the foods are adapted in their constituents to 

 the precise needs of the body. So universally is thus true 

 that it needs no demonstration. Analogy, therefore, would 

 make it probable that the same would be true of live stock 

 which feed upon the fruits of the earth. The table which 

 furnishes the greatest variety of suitable food products and 

 properly prepared, is the table that is most frequented in 

 the public house. Likewise, the manger that is best fur- 

 nished with variety in suitable foods is the one that will 

 best effect the ends sought from feeding. The necessity 

 for variety, however, is much influenced by the character 

 of the food, as is shown later. 



That animals tire of some foods much more quickly 

 than they do of others is certainly true. Of the grains, for 

 instance, they tire much more quickly of rye and barley 

 when these are fed as the exclusive grain ration than of 

 oats and corn. Of the by-products, sheep tire more quickly 

 of wheat bran than of wheat screenings and swine tire 

 more quickly of bran than of middlings. Corn and oats 

 may be fed with a relish for a longer period probably than 

 any other grain. Legumes also, as clover, alfalfa and cow- 

 peas may be fed for long periods without the relish for 

 them growing materially less. Animals never lose the rel- 

 ish for good grass with ample succulence, but they do for 

 corn fodder and sorghum, months after these have been 

 harvested. 



Every practical feeder of extended experience has 

 found that suitable variety in foods is helpful to him in his 

 work. He has found this true especially in times of feeding 

 the same foods for prolonged periods, even when the ani- 

 mals were not subjected to high pressure feeding. But when 

 fed under pressure the necessity for variety and the advan- 

 tage from the same is much increased. This is especially 

 true of animals that are being pushed for the block. The 



