In order to receive the full value of the feeds, the farmer should 

 carefully figure out the nutritive ratio of each feed he has, and then 

 make a mixture that will come as near as possible to being a balanced 

 ration. He should keep in mind the fact that protein promotes gi-owth, 

 and carbohydrates make the fat; hence, when the animal is young and 

 growing, its feed should contain more protein than when it is being 

 fattened. In feeding a dairy cow, the percentage of carbohydrates 

 should be increased above that given to a young growing animal. 



A fair ration for a growing animal is one part of protein to four or 

 five parts of carbohydrates. If fat is desired, the ratio should be in- 

 creased to one part of protein to five and a half to six and a half parts 

 of carbohydrates. 



WATER 



PURE water is a very essential factor in animal growth and health. 

 Dirty troughs, mud-holes and stagnant streams tend to disor- 

 ganize the digestive system amd encourage diseases. Hog cholera is 

 often transmitted to healthy hogs by drinking water from a contami- 

 nated stream. Henry says: 



"Animals can live much longer without solid food than without 

 water and an insufficiency of water in the body causes serious dis- 

 turbances. The processes of mastication, digestion, absorption and 

 assimilation are hindered, the intestines are not properly flushed, 

 waste matter remains too long therein, the blood thickens and the 

 body temperature is increased. Through these complications, death 

 may result. Animals partially deprived of water for a long period 

 lose their appetite for solid food and vomiting and diarrhea may occur. 

 The latter also often takes place when water is again supplied." 



Under normal conditions, animals consume a fairly uniform quantity 

 of water for each pound of dry matter eaten. Kellner places the 

 amount at four to six pounds for milch cows, four to five pounds for 

 oxen, two to three pounds for horses and sheep, and for swine seven 

 to eight pounds, which seems excessive. Possibly due to their laxa- 

 tive nature, feeds rich in crude protein, bran, linseed meal, peas, etc., 

 cause a greater demand for water than starchy feeds. Kellner found 

 that for each 100 pounds of water drank and in the food, the stabled 

 ox passed 46.3 pounds in the solid excrement, 29.2 in the urine and 

 24.5 in the breath and perspiration. Water is an important regulator 

 of the temperature of the animal body. A large amount of heat is 

 absorbed in converting water into the vapor given off by the lungs and 

 skin, and when sweat evaporates it carries much heat from the body. 



