The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1915-10-22
Principles of Animal Nutrition.

!. Principles of Animal Nutrition.
In order to fully appreciate the i'm
portance of animal production one
must consider that as human beings
we depend upon the raw soil for food
aud raiment. II would indeed be a
difficult matter had not kind provi-
dence provided plants and animals to
aid us in our struggle for existence.
The plant. with its root system pene-
trates the soil and with the aid of va
rious agencies. is able to gather for
itself from among the eighty or more
elements those which are peculiar to
its needs and with the aid of the sun $
rays elaborate them into its body and
fruit. The animal. on the other hand,
browses the growing plants or con-
sumes the gathered forage, and by
means of its process of digestion is
capable OF reducing plant life into
forms so simple that they may enter
the animal body and there take on the
forms of flesh. fleece and power
Because of this close relationship
existing between plants and animals,
it is therefore not at all strange that
upon analysis by the chemist, plant
and animal tissues contain similar
compounds which for our convenience
have been grouped into four groups:
namely ash or mineral matter, pro-
tein, carbohydrates and fats From
the standpoint of animal production
we will confine our considerations to
these groups OF compounds
The muscle or flesh. hide, hair.
blood and such parts of the animal
body are composed largely OF com.
pounds found in the group known as
proteins. The development of sucn
tissues takes place largely during the
growth of the animal. as each of thes =
tissues Is made up OF many cells
which during growth increase in size
and in number. After the animal
reaches maturity only sufficient
amounts of these compounds are nee
essary TO replace wear and tear The
logical conclusion would be that grow
ing animals should have foods rich ~
protein compounds, as a very pecu-
liar condition exists whereby only pro
tein compounds of plant or animal
foods can form protein compounds in
the animal body. Compounds from the
other three groups can not serve the
purpose. We find in the plant king
dom that certain classes of plants
contain a greater percentage of these
protein compounds than others Fore
most among them is the class OF
plant known as legumes Legumes
such as alfalfa. clover, peas, beans.
vetch and other should because Of
their protein content BE- desirable
feeds for growing animals. Factory
by-products such as oil meal. cotton
seed meal. gluten meal, dried brewers
grains, wheat bran, and others are al
so rich in protein compounds.
The ash or mineral matter is found
largely in the skeleton OF animals
AS with protein the greatest demand
for mineral matter such as lime. phos-
growing period of the animal becau3e
it is then that the rapid increase in
size calls for a rapid increase of The
bony framework.
Carbohydrates which includes
starches. sugars, and fbec are not
'ound except in very small quantities
m the animal holy but are the main
source of fat and heat in the body
When fed in moderate quantities they
are stored in the liver and muscle it's.
ne in the form of glycogen or animal
starch and used for maintaining the
body temperature. If fed in large
auanties they are changed into the
uore stable fat. For mature animals
Where the object is to fatten or dur
'ng seasons of the year where tempe
ratures are low, the feeding of feeds
rich in carbohydrates would be al
visable Most Of our cereal grains and
our coarse folders are rich in carbo-
hydrates During work 4 great deal
IF heat is evolved. so that carbohy-
irates are more economical as a rule
for work stock to a certain extent
than protein Protein can however. if
fed in excess be changed into fat. bu1
il is not economically used in that
way Fats serve much the same pur-
pose a. carbohydrates in the animal
body, and il fed in large quantities
may be deposited as fat in only slight
ly changed forms. Some ri our plant
seeds are especially rich N fats as are
also the by-products after the oil 10
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