USEFULNESS IN* ANIMALS 1 1/ 



do with the least among domestic animals. Sheep must 

 be given more exercise than would be suitable for cattle. 

 Young animals also call for more than aged. Such exer- 

 cise is a necessary accompaniment of muscle development, 

 and in the firming of muscles during the growing period. 

 That nature has made provision for it is witnessed in the 

 gambols of young animals which grow less and less with 

 decrease in the necessity for them, as age advances. The 

 adverse influence of want of exercise is readily seen in 

 the care of swine, even when confined in close pens and 

 especially when fed a carbonaceous diet. Soon they become* 

 unable to use the limbs and general disaster follows if such 

 treatment is continued. So is it with all animals. It is 

 only a question of time when deprived of exercise as to 

 when the inevitable premature breakdown shall come. The 

 influence of want of exercise on stamina is probably most 

 readily seen in the horse. Deprive the colt of exercise 

 and the muscles are so soft as to become incapable of 

 enduring properly taxing labor at a later period. There 

 will also be a deficiency in lung expansion and hence a 

 deficiency in staying power. 



Nowhere is the baneful influence of insufficient exer- 

 cise more apparent than in the extent to which it impairs 

 the powers of reproduction. That probably more than any 

 single influence is responsible for barrenness in domestic 

 animals. The adverse influence which it exercises on the 

 character of the production in breeding is even more 

 marked, as is witnessed in the enfeebled condition in which 

 young animals so frequently come into life. Exercise may 

 even be withheld to the extent of rendering the animal 

 unable to bring forth when the birth period is reached. 



The adverse influence of insufficient exercise on pro- 

 duction has already been touched upon when speaking of 

 its influence on muscle development and staying power in 

 the colt. The dairy cow in milk will probably do with less 

 of it than any other animal on the farm. But, unquestion- 

 ably in time, the want of exercise will tell adversely on 



