THE EFFICIENCY OF RATIONS 319 



Temperature and Climatic Conditions. — Climatic con- 

 ditions may have considerable influence upon the efficiency 

 with which an animal utilizes its ration. It has been stated 

 that in ordinary winter weather horses, hogs, and perhaps 

 dairy cattle, unless properly sheltered, must oxidize a part 

 of their ration to keep the body warm. In extremely cold 

 weather, or in damp, windy, cold weather, or when given 

 large amounts of very cold water to drink, cattle and sheep 

 must do the same. Thus, the amount of the ration avail- 

 able for production is lessened and the ration is less efficient 

 for productive purposes, i.e., it requires more feed to pro- 

 duce the same result. Also in very hot weather, especially 

 if flies are bad, the animal becomes less efficient and the 

 amount of production from a given amount of feed is 

 decreased. 



