XLIII. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



Farm Animals. Animal husbandry treats of the raising 

 and the proper management of animals, whether for home or 

 market use or for their products. It includes stock raising, 

 dairy husbandry, poultry raising, fish culture, oyster farming, 

 bee culture, and other subjects of a similar nature. 



A large part of the farm products are converted into animal 

 products before they are available for the use of man. We 

 have already learned that it is poor farm economy to sell all 

 the farm crops from year to year, unless the prices are high 

 enough to cover the cost of additional fertilizers, as this rapidly 

 exhausts the soil and leaves it in an impoverished condition. 

 It is generally better to feed the crops to animals that are kept 

 on the farm so that a large portion of the fertilizing elements 

 may be returned to the soil. By referring to Table 2, Appendix, 

 it is an easy matter to calculate to what extent soil improvement 

 will take place, in a field where cattle or other stock are fed. 

 This will be better understood if we study the reasons for keeping 

 domestic animals. 



These reasons are as follows: (1) to furnish directly or indirectly 

 food, clothing, and other products of value to man; (2) to act as 

 beasts of burden or all work; (3) to aid in maintaining the fertility 

 of the land; (4) to provide a means of disposing of the crops; 

 (5) to diversify agricultural occupations; (6) to afford employ- 

 ment to the farmer during the winter and inclement weather when 

 outdoor farm work would be impossible; (7) to assist in keeping 

 the farm clear of weeds; (8) to serve as companions under certain 

 conditions. 



Many animals will be found profitable in one part of our country 

 and unprofitable in another place. A close and careful study 

 should be made of the cost of keeping various animals and the 

 returns that the farmer may reasonably expect. This involves 

 to a certain extent a study of the functions or offices of domestic 

 animals. 



