CHAPTER II 



THE ANIMAL MACHINE AND ITS PLACE IN 

 OUR ECONOMY 



The highest type of domesticated animal has been 

 defined as the one which constitutes the most efficient 

 machine for making the greatest return, in its specific 

 product, on the raw material consumed. In this it bears 

 an important economic relation to man as a source of 

 Food and clothing, and as an auxiliary in work. 



3. Economic purpose of animal machine. — Food with 

 lir and water are the three essentials for human existence. 

 Food is that which builds up the body and furnishes 

 snergy for its activities; that which brings within reach 

 jf the living cells which form the tissues the elements 

 ivhich they need for life and growth. Only such available 

 substances can be called food, no matter what their chemi- 

 3al composition may be. Coal may be fuel for the fur- 

 lace, but not for cattle ; rough forage like hay may form 

 :he basis of cattle rations, but it is not available for man's 

 consumption. It is in the conversion of such raw mate- 

 rials as are not available to man in their present form into 

 mimal food products or into horse power for his service 

 ;hat the animal machine serves a most important eco- 

 lomic purpose. If man were to eliminate the fruits of 

 mimal production from his dietary, there would be of 

 lecessity an enormous increase in the cost of living, to 

 ;ompensate for the tremendous loss of the crops of the 



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