NUTRITION 275 



taken in through both feed and drink. Grain contains varying 

 amounts of water, but usually from 10 to 15 per cent, of their 

 weight is water. 



When an excessive amount of water has been taken into the 

 body the excessive amount is not stored, but escapes through 

 the bowels or is eliminated by way of the kidneys. An animal 

 will die when it has lost 10 per cent, of its body weight through 

 thirst; it will not die from starvation till all the fat of its -body 

 has disappeared and 50 per cent, of its protein. From this it 

 will be seen that the withholding of water or fluid is a more 

 serious condition than the withholding of other foods. Egg 

 production is retarded by lack of sufficient water. 



Recent experiments have shown that a six-pound bird will 

 consume on an average about five ounces of water in the warm 

 summer days. 



