124 THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE. 



work which they are enabled to perform, or from growth 

 and animal products. 



It requires a certain amount of food to maintain 

 life. If just enough is fed to keep up the vital pro- 

 cesses of the animal and prevent shrinkage of weight, 

 it is evident that the cost of keeping is absolutely lost 

 to the owner, unless, on account of the variation of mar- 

 ket prices, the animal is to be worth more at some 

 future time. 



Whatever the animal consumes, digests, and assimi- 

 lates, in excess of what is required to maintain life, will 

 be a source of profit, as it will yield either force for 

 work or animal products. 



Generally speaking, the more food the animal eats and 

 digests, the greater is the profit, as the ratio of gain to 

 the food consumed is greater. If it should require ten 

 pounds of food per day to maintain the life of a certain 

 animal, and three pounds of food in addition to produce 

 a gain of one pound of flesh, then a ration of thirteen 

 pounds of food would produce a daily gain of one pound 

 of flesh. A ration of sixteen pounds would produce a 

 gain of two pounds of flesh. In the former case the 

 ratio of gain to food is one to thirteen, and in the latter 

 case one to eight. 



This principle is limited, however, by the digestive 

 power of the animal. Any excess of food above the 

 quantity that can be properly digested may lead to 

 disease and loss. 



2. Feed a balanced ration. 



Animals should be supplied with food, the composition 

 of which is in proportion to their needs. 



As the fats and carbo-hydrates of food are of a similar 

 nature, and serve a similar purpose, it is customary, for 



