The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-04-22
FEEDING ANIMALS.

feeding animals is any especial part of
the veterinarian duties. but as beinu
a matter tI,at is quite as important
,.,r him to understand as for stockmcn
whom he serves. More than this, his
client has the right to expect of him
sound counsel upon any of the mani
fold problems that arise in the health
full and economical feeding of all an:
mails
His practieed eye should be quick
to detect any d., ,.tion from the per-
feet thrift that marks the animal, when
at its best, for the purpose for which
it is being fed, and be able to perscribe
the necessary diet to correct defective
conditions, instead Of giving condition
powders. However, they act admira-
bly, when given together. The basis
OF all intelligent and successful feed
ing is in the recognition of the under
lying fact that the various feeds are
composed of the same elements as the
bodies they nourish. In other words,
vegetation incorporates, from soil and
air, the materials that the animal body
IS about to appropriate. But the pro-
portions are seldom right; the water,
ash, protein, fat and carbohydrates of
the various forage plants and cereals
are in widely varying proportions and
degrees of digestibiity, so that it is
possible to starve an animal while Civ
ing it all it is able to cat, to greatly
curtail the production of milk bv
badly balanced ration or to so dmin-
ish force as to render an animal worth
less for work. To feed for bare main
tenance is one thing for rapid growth
and full developments better thing
to feed milk COW at a loss, an easy
thing: to feed horse up to his full
capacity for work, grand thing.
While pedigree is important, skill in
feeding makes the successful breeder.
We have different kinds Of FEEDING
scientific feeding, where the right ma
terlals are in exact proportions for de-
sired results: good feeding, where the
ration is mad up from ones own ex-
pericnce and from the teaching of 9TH
ers : haphazard feeding, and ignorant,
careless, ruinous. criminal feeding
But our live stock interests, the great
est of any people upon the globe, de-
mand that we understand and practice
the business for the best results.
Science is the lever, experience the
hand that applies it, love and admira-
tlon for our animals the inspiration,
and profit the consnmmation devoutly
wished for.
Tide science OF feeding is exact, so
far rs determining the relative propo-
tions of the diycstible protein to the
carbohydrates and fat. for different
purposes, under the same conditions,
but animals are kept under such wide
ly different circumstances as TO shelter,
ventilation, exercise and work, and |
have formed different habits from IT.
fiucnce of environments, that it is hard |
to lay down inhexable rules. The an |
alysis of the different feeds at hand, t
a careful. study of the conditions, pnr-
pose and characteristics of the animal,
enables the skilful feeder to acquire |
eXactness and proficiency.
AS before intimated. feeding is re
duced to an exact science, and with a
knowledge of the composition of ami !
NAL bodies and of the various feeds |
that are to sustain, make growth, pro- /!
lucc milk and wool, repair waste, per-
form work and lay on fat, and by the
use of figures, which won't lie, the
problem is solved
The materials must be so see ted /
and combined as to constitute the bal (
anced ration for the purpose. Ami
mails are easily bred into fat-form- |
inc or beef habit. which destroys their I
adaptability for the dairy or race
track. Hens fed exclusively upon
tattcning foods cease laying The /.
hogs of our section iail to fill the mar
ket demand because too much corn |
fed, too little exercise, too much lard /.
The chemical constituents of the food
are the chief factor in giving firmness
and hardness Of bone and muscular
tone and action Too little attention
is paid to the amount of water in the
feed; thus we see animals being nearly
phvscked to death upon succulent
foods: and others badly Impaired by
constipation caused by hard, dry food. /
The right condition is maintained by |.
the proper combinations.
Stock need roots. slage, wettcd
feeds or mash the amount of needed
water varies with the purpose of the
animal and cannot be supplied by
drink alonr. The time of cutting, the
perfection OF the drying or curing pro-
cess, GOES far in determined the palat-
ahleness, the digestiblity and the
danger Of undergoing fermentation in
the digestive tract. kiln-dried finely
ground cereals are the safest and most
lealthlnl, mixed with silagc or made