180 Oattle Problems. 



why they gain but little in weight, though fully fed, is 

 their loss of muscle, much of which dies from inaction, 

 caused by stillness or tying, and the transformation of the 

 dead muscle-substance into fat. So the food-value of their 

 meat is reduced according to the reduction of muscle 

 caused by the sudden and continued arrest of exercise, 

 with the corresponding reduction of breathing and red or 

 oxygenated blood. When cattle are suddenly tied up 

 they suffer much pain, which causes restlessness and im- 

 perfect digestion, and prevents thrift, causing the loss of 

 much nutrient food-material in the droppings. So, on the 

 whole, it appears that cattle will gain quite as much in 

 weight when not tied up at all to fatten — excepting unruly 

 or vicious animals ; for when exercise in large yards or in 

 pasture lots is allowed, there is no loss of muscle from in- 

 action ; and though no muscle-substance goes to increase 

 the proportion of fat, the proportion of nutriment in the 

 meat is far greater wM than without exercise, because 

 there is more red muscle-flesh, and the juicy quality it sup- 

 plies in the beef when fattening cattle are allowed regular 

 exercise. In other words, exercise saves food-value, by 

 preventing loss of muscle, while tying up reduces food- 

 value, by causing much loss of muscle, which latter con- 

 tains the nourishing juices and qualities of beef for food, 

 which is practically illustrated in the success of John D. 

 Gillette, and other extensive cattle feeders in Central Il- 

 linois. 



The same principles apply in the feeding of hogs. It is 

 only necessary to insure moderate activity while the ani- 

 mals are fattening, in either case. But it ts necessary to 

 maintain the full proportion of muscular or lean flesh in 

 the meat, for the fullest and best nutritive quality can be 

 kept up in no other way than by moderate daily exercise. 

 A case in point: — 



In Green Lake county. Wis., a number of successful 



