491 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



prepared before fed, they may not come in contact with the sol- 

 vent action of the secretions contained in the animal's stomach, 

 and will be voided in an undigested state, retaining their vegeta- 

 tive powers. What a wase provision is this to seed uninhabited 

 portions of the universe, through the medium of birds and ani- 

 mals. 



You will find, by experience, that active animals will consume 

 far mure, and less delicate food than indolent ones, because the 

 waste of body is proportionate to tlie activity of the beast. 



A cow, giving milk, or nursing a calf, will eat as much food as 

 thirteen sheep; an ox, being fattened, as eleven sheep; a horse, 

 besides oats, as nine sheep; a three year old steer, as nine sheep; 

 a calf, as two sheep. 



If you desire that your animals should grow rapidly, make 

 their food available to them with the very least expenditure of 

 muscular energy on their part. Instead of permitting your cow 

 to traverse an acre of land to obtain her morning repast, let her 

 find it within four square rods. Have mercy on your horse, and 

 give him his hay cut, and oats ground, instead of permitting 

 him to perambulate a bare pasture lot, for four hours, to obtain 

 that which, in another shape, he could consume in twenty min- 

 utes; thus saving his bone and muscle for a more useful purpose. 

 Cut the turnips for your sheej), that they may eat in ten minutes, 

 the same amount of food that would require the expenditure of 

 an hour's time, in the whole state. Always give food to cattle 

 in the condition that will require the least possible time to eat it. 

 And never, on any account, limit the quantity to a fattening 

 animal. Rather constantly increase it and promote his appetite 

 by changing the diet, and feeding at regular periods; so that he 

 may compose himself to rest, and an undisturbed digestion. 



Any animal can be made to far exceed the present stock, by a 

 proper supply of wiiolesome food. And if a calf, or colt, is 

 deprived of the requisite nutriment, in quantity or quality, he 

 never can become perfectly developed; though he may receive 

 every attention ^t a later stage of his existence. Internal con- 

 gestions having already taken place, his constitution has become 

 injured, and the mesenteric glands diseased. 



