RELATION OF FOOD TO ANIMAL REQUIREMENTS. 101 



Economy of food is also promoted by diminisliing 

 the demand for heat and work. An animal at rest in a 

 stall will increase in weight far more than an animal 

 taking active exercise on the same diet. In the same 

 way the increase from a given weight of food will be less 

 in winter than in spring or autumn, a far larger proportion 

 of the food being consumed for the production of heat 

 when the animal is living in a cold atmosphere. Hence 

 the economy of feeding animals under cover during winter. 

 If, however, the temperature becomes so high as to con- 

 siderably increase the perspiration, waste of food again 

 takes place, heat being consumed in the evaporation of 

 water. The temperature most favourable for animal 

 increase is apparently about C0° Fahr. Quietness, and 

 freedom from excitement are essential to rapid fattening ; 

 the absence of strong light is therefore desirable. 



The capacity of an animal for fattening depends much 

 on breed and temperament. A farmer learns to recognise 

 the fattening disposition of an animal from the feel of its 

 skin, &c. 



The three animals with which the farmer is chiefly con- 

 cerned have very different powers of consuming food, and 

 yield different rates of increase. Lawes and Gilbert reckon 

 that, on an average of the whole fattening period, an ox 

 will produce 100 lb. of live weight from the consumption 

 of 250 lb. oilcake, 600 lb. clover hay, and 3500 lb. swedes. 

 Sheep will produce the same increase by the consumption 

 of 250 lb. oilcake, 300 lb. clover hay, and 4000 lb. 

 swedes. Pigs will require about 500 lb. of barley meal to 

 jdeld a similar result. Taking these data, the rate of 

 food consumption, and of increase yielded will be as 

 follow^s : — 



