58 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



appears in the dynamic form than is the case with 

 ruminants. 



The distinction between dynamic and thermic 

 energy is of great importance, for a proper under- 

 standing of the action of different foods on the 

 various species of animals. 



It must be clearly understood that the animal 

 body possesses no power of converting heat into 

 work or other form of energy. Whatever part of 

 the food has taken the form of heat has passed 

 beyond the influence of the body ; it has lost the 

 property which the digested nutrients possess of 

 being applied to various purposes. Heat, once it is 

 manifested, can only act as such, and under some 

 conditions — high temperature, etc. — it finds no 

 further useful application in the body. 



(3) Abundant food supply — Formation of fat 

 and flesh. 



If an animal gets an abundant supply of food, 

 it uses part of it for maintenance. The excess can 

 go to increase the body substance or serve for the 

 production of useful muscular work. A ration 

 which yields more food than an animal requires 

 for maintenance can, therefore, be divided into two 

 parts; the one maintains life, the other serves for 

 the production of tissue. The former is called the 

 maintenance ration and the latter the productive 



