WHY RAISE FARM ANIMALS 203 



live-stock requires most attention during a period when little 

 work is needed for crop production. Animal production, 

 therefore, fills a gap in labor employment. It makes possible 

 a turning to profit of time which might otherwise be wasted. 

 Furthermore, much of the care necessary for farm animals 

 during the cropping season is given during mornings and 

 evenings, thus allowing time for a good day's work. For 

 these reasons live-stock may be said to be produced on cheap 

 time. 



System of farming. If the balance between crops and 

 animals is properly maintained in a well-planned system, such 

 a system of farming is well adapted to the average farm. In 

 this connection should be mentioned a kind of specialized 

 farming the raising of farm animals of a particular breed. 

 Farms of this kind, in a limited number, are not only quite 

 profitable when well managed, but are also an important 

 source for supplying pure-bred animals for use on farms de- 

 voted to general farming. On such farms crop raising may 

 be a secondary matter. In our discussion of farm animals 

 their relation to general farming only will be considered. 



Relation between production of crops and farm animals. 

 -The advantage of establishing a cropping system for 

 maintaining soil fertility and for control of weeds, plant 

 diseases and insects has been shown in previous chapters. 



A system of this kind is necessary for permanent agri- 

 culture. When farm animals are raised, a cropping system 

 must be followed which will not only include these two 

 provisions but a third also one to meet the food require- 

 ments of animals. Fortunately this simplifies the problem 

 of planning a system of farming, for, as has already been 

 emphasized, animal wastes furnish an important means of 

 maintaining the fertility of the soil. In general, farm animals 



