986 



The Feeding of Farm Stock. [march, 



and bone. Hence the prime consideration in making up the 

 food ration must be to ensure a sufficiently liberal supply of 

 digestible albuminoids (see Journal, Feb., 191 1, p. 901) and of 

 the bone-forming mineral ingredients (lime and phosphates). 

 Further, it is desirable that any food given with the milk, 

 which will form the basis of the ration during the early months 

 of the young animal's life, shall be, like milk, comparatively 

 rich in albuminoids and oil, and easily digested. No single 

 foodstuff fulfils these requirements more satisfactorily than 

 linseed. 



As the animal grows the special requirement for albuminoids 

 decreases steadily in proportion to its total food require- 

 ments, and the ration may be correspondingly adjusted to 

 be poorer in albuminoids and richer in carbohydrates. , In 

 the case of young stock growing up under natural conditions - 

 this adjustment is effected spontaneously. For example, 

 calves or foals running on grass with their dams make the 

 adjustment by steadily increasing the amount of grass eaten 

 in proportion to milk consumed. Where animals are reared 

 under more artificial conditions, the adjustment must be made 

 very gradually. It will always be safer to err on the side of 

 liberality in the supply of albuminoids to growing animals. 



The quantity of food required by the young animal in- 

 creases, of course, with the growth of the animal, but not at 

 the same rate. On the contrary, the amount of growth pro- 

 duced per unit weight of food consumed steadily diminishes 

 as growth progresses, until at last the point is reached when 

 the animal attains its full growth, after which no further gain 

 in weight takes place unless fattening conditions are re- 

 sorted to. 



A further matter that demands attention in the feeding of 

 growing animals is the supply of mineral ingredients in the 

 food, and especially of lime and phosphates, since these enter 

 so largely into the composition of the bones. Cases of bone 

 trouble in young stock, especially pigs, have frequently been 

 traced to deficiencies in this respect. 



Suitable facilities must be provided for exercise in the open 

 air, in order to ensure full development of the muscles and 

 bones, and general soundness of constitution. 



In all matters relating to the treatment of young animals 



j 

 i 



