FUNCTIONS OF FOOD MATERIALS 



285 



FINISHED PRODUCTS 



FUNCTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT FOOD MATERIALS 



258. Water. Water in food serves the same purpose 

 as that which the animal drinks. It is, therefore, not 

 considered as having any value. A feed that is moist 

 may be more palatable than a dry feed. Water is the food 

 that all animals require in largest quantities. It not 

 only serves as the carrier of food in the animal body, but 

 makes up the larger part of the body itself. The great 

 importance of an abundance of good water for all animals 

 is not always sufficiently considered. 



259. Ash. The ash is chiefly of use in the formation 

 of bone, but it doubtless has other important functions. 

 A mixed feed usually contains sufficient ash, so that the 

 ash has been ignored in calculating the value of feeds. 

 Possibly, when we learn more about it, we will give more 

 attention to it. 



There are several cases in which the deficiency in ash 

 is very important. The cereals in general and Indian 

 corn in particular are deficient in ash. The legumes con- 

 tain high percentages of ash. Hogs fed on corn alone are 

 likely to be very weak-boned. To correct the shortage 



