Incorrect feeding of a growing little one affects body weight, height and constitution of an animal. If the feeding is incorrect, our pets can develop various serious diseases. Unbalanced feeding can also reduce fertilization ability.

Clever owner organizes feeding of domestic animals correctly, regulates the amount of food in accordance with their physiological needs. Feeding must be full (that is, should take into account the quality of nutrition), well-balanced (that is, should consider the interaction of certain substances in food and in the organism) and rational (should consider correct consumption of forage sources when scheduling a diet).

Most pet owners today feed their pets on commercial foods which are well-formulated and have no nutritional deficiencies. It is difficult to prepare a homemade diet that con-tains all the nutrients the animal requires so in most cases it is easier and safer to feed a commercial food.

In general both cats and dogs are omnivorous. They can eat meat, fish, milk, vegetable and grassy food. From time to time they eat grass or houseplants. In this way they get minerals and vitamins.

Task 7 Give the Russian for the following words and phrases:

determine the nutrient needs; pet nutrition; a growing little one; incorrect feeding; develop serious diseases; unbalanced feeding; reduce fertilization ability; in accordance with their physiological needs; take into account; the interaction of certain substances; consumption of forage sources; scheduling a diet; nutritional deficiencies; a homemade diet; grassy food.

Task 8 Explain the following in English:

domestic animals; full feeding; well-balanced feeding; rational feeding; commercial foods; omnivorous.

Task 9 Speak on the following problems:

a) Well-balanced feeding of domestic animals.

b) The advantages of commercial foods.

c) Problems connected with a homemade diet.

Task 10 Choose the words from the box to form word combinations with “food”. Then translate them into Russian.

Example: pet food — корм для животных.

baby, fast, fresh, frozen, organic, pre-cooked, ready-made, tinned, vegetarian, sea, pet, genetically modified

Task 11.Arrange the names of food in the box into the groups of “general” words or phrases. Some words can be used more than once. Example: herbs: dill, celery, etc.

Task 12. Find the odd word out in the following groups of words. Use your dictionary.

Example: apples, veal, peaches, apricots.

1. Milk, yoghurt, sour, cream, tea.

2. Sausage, meat, steak, lobster.

3. Shrimp, oyster, chips, lobster.

4. Grapes, water-melon, strawberry, shamrock.

5. Pork, cow, mutton, veal.

6. Egg, bread, cake, biscuit.

7. Salmon, cod, veal, herring.

8. Nutrition, diet, feeding, breeding.​