726 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



well stored with this weigh heavier in proportion when killed 

 than those with less, and which are in lower condition. A con- 

 sideration of this has led me to infer, that with the increase of 

 this interior fat there occurs a displacement of material in process 

 of digestion; and on inquiry of butchers of experience, I learn 

 that one characteristic of a beast which kills well, is to have a 

 little stomach. On looking over the items of offal of full-grown 

 animals, they appear capable of little variation in the same 

 animal, except the loose fat and the stomach, in each of which 

 there occurs a difference of 100 lbs., or upwards. 



The writer of the article on Meat, in Morton's " Cyclopcedia," 

 attributes this greater carcase weight of fatted beasts to greater 

 solidity : to hollows being filled up and protuberances being 

 formed. It seems, however, clear that this would equally affect 

 the live weight, and does not therefore satisfactorily explain the 

 matter just mentioned. 



- If these views be correct, it appears that besides a gain of car- 

 case weight, which is shown to be 14 lbs. per week, on animals 

 which gain this in live weight, there is likewise a gain of loose 

 fat, which, from observation, I am led to estimate at 3 lbs. per 

 week, or 72 lbs. for the 24 weeks. An animal in a lean or store 

 state, will contain about 30 to 35 lbs. of loose fat. After 24 

 weeks' feeding, I should expect 104 to 112 lbs. of loose fat. 

 The gain in carcase weight I estimate as 14 lbs. per week. 

 " in loose fat, 3 



Whole gain per week, 17 lbs. 



I may here remark, that if the feeder expect a weekly return 

 equal to the price of the whole of the gain in live weight, he is 

 likely to be mistaken. Though favorably situated for the purchase 

 of stock, I am seldom able to purchase lean stock, which, if killed 

 at the time of purchase, would not, in accordance with the com- 

 putation stated, cost more per lb. than the price of fat stock at 

 the same time. The difference in my case will be from 30^. to 

 405. per beast, which will be a deduction of Is. 6d. to 2s. per 

 week from the earnings reckoned on the gain of live weight. 



In addition to the interior fat, tallow, and suet, there is an in- 

 crease in the fat of the beef, and of that mixed with the flesh. 

 That this increases in a greater proportion than the flesh, seems 

 clear as fat beef is a term used to signify beef having a greater 



