92 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



Shorthorns and Ayrshires are characterized by producing 

 milk in a sort of equilibrium in regard to quantity and 

 quality. 



Equally marked is the difference in the degree of mus- 

 cle produced in the different breeds of horses and in the 

 difference in the degree of energy generated as manifested 

 in a difference in speed and staying power. The only limit 

 to the possible development of muscle on the one hand and 

 the generation of energy on the other is that set by normal 

 inheritance. It would not be correct to say that this limit 

 may not be changed, but it cannot be changed suddenly. 



That one breed of sheep should possess wool on an 

 average 10 inches long and that another breed should pos- 

 sess the same but 3 inches long, though similarly fed, is 

 surprising. Nor is it any less surprising that the sheep 

 with the short wool, as for instance the American Merino, 

 should center the energies of digestion on the production 

 of wool, whereas the sheep with the long wool, as, for 

 instance Lincoln, centers its energies rather on the produc- 

 tion of mutton. 



It is not meant that these various habits are not 

 influenced to some extent or at least some of them and 

 very directly by the character of the food fed. It would 

 be easy to feed freely to a draft horse food, as corn for 

 instance, that would aid him in winning at a fair, whereas, 

 if the same food were fed equally to a standard-bred it 

 would cause him to lose in a speed contest. Likewise, food 

 that is best for beef production is not that which is best for 

 milk producion. Nor is it meant that these habits in diges- 

 tion may not be so changed in time as to lose their dis- 

 tinctive character, but the fact is emphasized that these 

 changes can only be effected gradually, hence the breeder 

 when commencing his work should give due recognition to 

 the influence which established habit in the animals which 

 he breeds is likely to exert on his work. 



Modifications of habit in digestion. That habit in 

 digestion may .be so modified as to produce certain results 



