THE VALUE OF WATER,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1729, 21 April 1913, Page 10

THE VALUE OF WATER,

REQUIREMENTS QI'\ANIMALS.;, " "Water plays a part of,fundamental iin- . ''"I>ortanco ijl tho .animal economy. Not only is' it an''indispensable nutrient;'. but! it forms also tho medium in which' all .; "'the vital processes are carried on. , It ' serves as solvent land transporting agent i nor .oil- the'nutrients, for the enzymes'by means of which the nutrients' are digested amfutilised, and for the products of thesis actions. -It is required, also, for the ination. of milk and other secretions,' ana '. for the removal 0f,." waste products from' the system. Further, it plays a part of tho highest importance in regulating the temperature of tho body,'since in its con.- , .version to vapour largo* quantities of heat tire taken up, and thus removed from'/tho ' body through ths skin and lungs. In this way the excess of heat-'that liberal feeding always generates in'the body is'i'e'; moved-, and over-heating of-the body prevented. Tha functions of water in tho animal system are thus so varied and important that it is easy, to understand • .why serious 'consequences attend any long- . 'continued deficiency in tho supply. /The effects,of such deficiency are" £een first in.a! Blackening of -tho activity of digestion and icabsorption, and in les9 complete removal of tlie:nitrogenous waste products from' the body. If the water supply'' continues to bo inadequate," the--blood gradually thickens, tho body 'temperature rises, and fever-liko conditions arc established,. accompanicd by a more rapid wastage' of .the 'lwdy. tis-. \' sues -which scon leads to tlie.'djeath'of "tho animal. Tho effects'of" absolute' lack o"f water are indeed''timbre.gerfyrii;.'and moro rapid in their iictioh'tlian those attendantupon absolute 'lacK'Wfood! Young animals are especially liable to • suiter in their-'growth from any" deficiency or irregularity in their water supply. Excessive consumption of water need not be feared, unless the animal ;s compelled'.to ... _it by tha inclusion of-excessive'amounts of watery' food, or of thirst-exciting ingredients, Mich as salt in' its Tation.. If, however, excessivo consumption of water be continued over any considerable period, it will lend gradually to an accumulation, . of water in tlio tissues, which, in consequeiice, will'asstime a more, swollen 'and llafcfey character. The digestive- powers of Iho animal will also I]'? weakened. More-' 3ver, tho removal of excessive quantities' of water from the, body.will exact -from t-lie"food, and supplies of 'energy which will materially reduce the surplus availulibfor productive purpose's.'.The amount iil* h a lei- consumed by an animal that: is nllmrcd free access lo,water varies greatly with different- individuals, arid,.with the hiuuu individual under different' conditions - til' feeding, temperature, atmospheric humidity, etc. .Milk-producing animals require more water than working, animals, and these latter, mora than fattening animals of the shmti class. Young animals consume indre water in proportion.to'their Mze than old ones, and lean animals,moro than fat oties. Many substances; such as Fait and' sugar, if given in moro than Jnoderato amounts, lead to increased conhumption of water. As regards the best practice to follow in watering animals, Kellner makes the following suggestions: rattle should be watered at each mcnl after the consumption of tho first dry fodder, mnl should be givm as much water as they will consume. Horses are best watercil before feeding, or otherwise,portions of t he pain may be washed out of the stomach into the intestines, and*be only iriiperfeciJy digested. '■ Horses that are over-heated tvr that havo received no water for a long period, miist bo watered with great c.v.t.iion. They should first lie allowed to cool <k,wn somewhat, and to recover their normal pnlso and rate of breathing.. With over-neated horses it is best to give first a little hay, perhaps just moistened with water, and then, every qiiaiiel'-houT. to give gradually increasing amounts of •water, starting with smJill quantities. Sheep, pigs, and stock may safely bo allowed free access to water,