Section II.— THE FOODS FED TO BEASTS 



Water in Foods. — All foods fed to stock contain a 

 certain amount of water in their composition. Soft turnips 

 contain as much as 92 per cent, of water, mangolds about 

 86 per cent, of water, and concentrated foodstuffs, like 

 the oil cakes and grains, contain about 12 per cent, of water. 

 When foods contain large quantities of water, little extra 

 water is needed for drinking purposes, but when consider- 

 able quantities of dry food are fed, water must be used in 

 addition. The consideration of the water supply for stock 

 closely resembles the study of the water supply for human 

 consumption, but a considerably lower standard ma}^ be 

 adopted. Drainage from fields may be utilized for this 

 purpose, but care should be taken that the water is not muddy 

 or fouled by any trampling by the cattle themselves. A 

 short lead of underground pipes, conveying the water from 

 this source to a properly constructed cattle trough, will 

 result in the supply of a considerably purer water. The 

 mere process of running through pipes tends to purify the 

 water, as it comes into contact with fresh air in the course 

 of its fall. A small underground reservoir is also convenient 

 to remove earthy matters in suspension. Where large 

 quantities of vegetable growths occur in the drinking supply, 

 unsatisfactory results may be observed. Each pound of 

 dry food used needs seven pounds of water for pigs, four or 

 six pounds for cows, or oxen, and two or three pounds for 

 horses. Well-fed animals with a good coat usually develop 

 excessive heat, and, therefore, do not suffer from drinking 

 cold water. Pigs, however, being smaller animals, and being 

 ill protected by hair, not infrequently show some good 

 results from heating the water supply. When water, in 



