338 MAJN-iJAL o:f oattle-feebing. 



savins of fodder effected. If tins were tlie only clreum- 

 stance to be coiibidered, tlie greatest economy would rebult 

 from keepinar the surroniidinos of the animal at the same 

 teniperatm-e as its bodj^ for then no lieat would be lost by 

 radiation, 



A high temperature, however, tends to increase the per- 

 spiration, wliich, as we liave learned, demands considerable 

 heat for its evaporation ; so that the saving effected by the 

 diminished radiation consequent on a high temperature 

 may be more than counterbalanced by the loss due to the 

 gimter amount of* perspiration evaporated. To this is to 

 be added the fact that the animals are also led to drink 

 more water, thus still further increasing, or tending to in- 

 crease, the consumption both of protem and fat in the 

 body. 



It thus becomes evident that the most favorable balance 

 between these two opposing factors, and consequently the 

 most economical production, may take place at a medium 

 temperature, and this conclusion is one which accords with 

 the general experience of farmers. 



That the least expenditure of material by the body takes 

 place at a medium temperature is very clearly shown by 

 Voit's experiments, cited on p. 233. 



Finally, the question of profit comes in. Warming the 

 stable in winter involves a certain amount of expense; 

 leaving it cold also involves a certain amount of expense^ 

 viz., the cost of the excess of fodder required by the ani- 

 mals. It is a question to be settled by the circumstances 

 of each particular case which method of procedure is, on 

 the whole, more profitable. 



Amount of Drinh — As already pointed out, excessive 

 drinking tends to increase the consumption of matter in 

 the animal body, and thus to decrease the profits of tlie 



