MEAT PRODUCTION 375 



It is also evident that animals that are low in flesh or 

 carry but a moderate amount when put on feed, and whose 

 digestion has not been impaired, will make more gain under 

 prolonged feeding than animals in good flesh, but not really 

 fat when put on feed. They will also usually make such 

 gains more rapidly and for the reason among others that -in 

 the system there is more room for increase. 



But increase during the fattening period is increased or 

 retarded by the nature of the diet given previous to its 

 commencement. The system must be brought into what 

 may be termed a sappy condition, that is, a condition in 

 which the fluids of the body are abundant before gains 

 can be rapid. It must be amply stocked with circula- 

 tory protein. It has been found that swine, for instance, 

 grown largely on succulent pasture such as alfalfa or rape, 

 will make subsequent increase more rapidly than swine 

 equal in weight that had been fed chiefly on grain. Some 

 foods that cannot be classed as being in themselves fatten- 

 ing foods are, nevertheless, highly useful in putting the 

 system in a condition for fattening. Such are field roots 

 and various other succulent and nutritious foods. 



The character of the food as to its constituents, influ- 

 ences gains in a marked degree. The largest increase may be 

 expected from foods fed in balance, and that balance will 

 vary with the needs of the animal. An animal of incom- 

 pleted growth, for instance, requires more of protein in 

 the food than one of completed growth. When fattening 

 only is wanted without growth, this will be best attained 

 by a ration as rich in carbohydrates as may be safely fed 

 for the purpose sought. 



Intense feeding, that is, feeding a large propor- 

 tion of concentrates to the roughage and concentrates 

 rich in the nutrients that aid in producing fat, will 

 produce the most rapid gains when properly fed, though 

 not necessarily the most economical gains. Such feeding 

 also tends to shorten the period in which gains are made. 



