MEAT PRODUCTION. 



By J. ALAN MURRAY, B.Sc. 



{University College, Reading.) 



For purposes ot discussion of the problems of meat production the term 

 "condition" may be defined as the ratio of the amount of fat to the 

 amount of non-fatty matter in the body of the living animal, and the 

 term "fattening" as any alteration in this ratio. Such alteration may 

 result from (a) increase, (b) decrease in the amount of fat, (c) increase, 

 ((/) decrease in the amount of non-fatty matter. This, of course, implies 

 that fattening may be either positive or negative and that the "increase" 

 may be mathematically a minus quantity. 



The composition of the non-fatty matter is practically constant. It 

 is the same in cattle, sheep and pigs and is not affected by condition but 

 varies slightly with age. The averages, as deduced from Lawes and 

 Gilbert's analyses, are as follows: 



Ash Protein Water 



O' o/ o/ 



/o /o /o 



Young animals (calveS; Iambs and pigs) 3-75 19-35 76-9 



Adults (cattle and sheep) 5-60 21-8-1 72-6 



The composition of the whole body is therefore determined by the 

 amount of fat in it, and the relation between condition and live weight 

 is expressed by M = m [f —f )/(p — F), where m and M are the live 

 weights corresponding to/ and F per cent, of body fat respectively and 

 /) is the percentage of fat in the increase. When the amount of non- 

 fatty matter remains unaltered — in some cases this can be inferred — 

 ■p = 100. 



As it is impossible to distinguish between fat formed in the course 

 of growth and that due to fattening the total amount of fat in the body 

 ()«//100) at any moment must be treated as fattening increase and the 

 non-fatty matter m(l — //lOO) as growth increase. The latter, it will 

 be seen, is the live weight in fat-free condition. 



For each pound of fat in the increase the animal must consume and 

 resorb at least 1 lb. of fat or equivalent quantity of other nutrients. 

 According to the theory of isod)-nan:ic replacement 2-3 lb. of starcli is 



