CHAPTER VI. 



PRINCIPLES OF FEEDING. 



" The mind of the master fattens his cattle." 



.4. OBJECT OF FEEDING. 



Farm crops are grown for the profit there is 

 in them to the farmer. Farm animals are fed 

 to increase this profit. 



Anything grown on the farm which will help 

 to form a suitable food for stock should be fed 

 and the waste returned to the soil, so that the 

 largest profit may be obtained with the smallest 

 loss to the soil. The profit obtained from feed- 

 ing farm animals may be manifested in one of 

 three forms of work done : (i) increase of Mesh, 

 by growth or fattening; (2) production of milk, 

 wool, etc., or (3) labor performed. 



The amount of digestible food, then, must 

 exceed the supply necessary for the demands of 

 the body by the amount sufficient to promote 

 the work exacted of the animal ; otherwise the 

 work is done at the expense of the body, and 

 the overworked and underfed animal becomes 

 poor and weak, because it has drawn upon the 

 tissues of the body (flesh consumption) to sup- 

 ply the energy for work. In the food of ani- 

 mals, as in that of plants, it is necessary to con- 

 sider only a few kinds. 



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