West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-11-15
rhe Tattonine of swinn.

rs ioou is tHc DuSlS OF the lie n
growth Of an animal 1T follows that for
healthful life and growth the food should
be completely adapted to the require
ments OF the vital functions of the ami.
NAL. II the food is not sufficient to pro.
vide Tor all its necessities or is in excess
OF its necessities the animal will be de-
f~ective in some vital part or will be un-
duly taxed TO get rid Of the excess.
which will be a source of injury. The
science Of feeding is based upon this
simple law and upon the maintenance Of
the proper balance between food and
growth. Within certain limits this
bal ance may be strained for a time and
animals will assimilate a certain excess
OF food which is stored up in the form
of fat in the tissues as a esource in
times of scarcity when food cannot be
secured in sufficient quantity. But this
excess must not be carried beyond a safe
point or disease is produced and the
animal refuses TO eat any more. because
the digestive organs become clogged and
paralyzed. And on the other hand there
may be a certain scarcity of food for a
time, during which the stored up re-
serve may be drawn upon and used TO
maintain vitality, but, as in the other
case, this cannot be prolonged beyond a
certain point, or the vital functions
cease for want of support. But this lat
ter alternative is always injurious and I'M
profitable, because a large quantity of
food is required to replace the loss Of
tissue and bring the animal back to the
condition it was in when the starving
process began. Hence it is a maxim
among feeders of live stock that animals
of all kinds should be kept growing
constantly and no drawbacks permitted
in their condition, but the fullest feed
ing should be supplied consistent with q
perfectly healthful and vigorous growth.
An animal consists of bone, flesh, and
fat, and certain vital organs which con.
slst OF glandular tissue and membranes.
Flesh Is made up of a large proportion
(~sixteen per cent Of nitrogen. Fat is
made up chiefly of carbon or compound
OF 1t with water. Food consists of
similar elements, but some foods are
rich in nitrogen and some are rich in
carbon. 1t is a well-known fact in the
practice of feeding animals Tint foods
rich IN carbon will not produce flesh,
while foods rich in nitrogen will; also,
that the principal vital organs contain q
good deal OF. nitrogen, and for their full
development and the consequent full vi
tally Of an animal, foods rich in nitro
cen must be supplied ia sufficient guam
tity. A young growing animal fed upon
starch will soon die, but n full-Qrown
animal fed upon starch up to a certain
point will become very fat. II is mat
ter Of economy under present conditions
that young animals should be fed as
quickly as possible and made as heavy
as possible in the shortest time. Hence
II IS that in feeding animals, especially
swine, mistakes may easily be made in
the choice Of food, aud such food as
will rot preserve the healthful balance
may be used in the effort to force a rapid
and great advance in the fattening pro-
cess.
Corn is the principal food used for
fattening swine. IL Is also used to too
great an excess for general feeding.
Consequently there Is a generally defec-
tive constitution as a result Of unheaith-
full feeding where this system prevails,
and the prevalent hog cholera is a proof
OF the error made in the excessive use Of
this too carbonaceOus food. Some Of the
experiment stations have been given M.
teutiOn to this subject, and have shown
some remarkable results, which have been
previously referred TO In the Times. The
method Of feeding adopted has been to
supply such a proportion Of nitrOgcnous
food with the corn as would render the
feeding fully nutritious and healthful.
The effects Of such feeding were that
the growth Of bone wa larger, the vital
organs-tho heart lungs, liver md
spleon-were heavier and more vigorous;
while, as might be expected from this
better development Of these organs, the
carcass was heavier and the proportion
Of lean meat 70 fat was larger than on
exclusive conflicting. 10 may be suf.
hcient only 70 point out these facts men
toned 70 lead feeders Of swine 20 make
nee Of such nitrogeuous foods AZ bran,
milk AID linsocd cake meal along With
corn, 30 ne 20 avoid disease and 10 secure
more and better meat, greater profit in
feeding, and exemption from losses By
diseaso.-MsW YOrk Tins.