THE FATTENING OF MATURE ANIMALS 



355 



while the laying on of fat is accomplished largely by an increase 

 in the fat-content of existing cells there appears to be also an 

 increase in the number of cells in the adipose tissue, and the 

 latter process may be assumed to require a supply of protein. 

 The protein contained in one pound of subcutaneous adipose 

 tissue of average composition would be equivalent to the 

 storage of about 0.045 MJ>. f protein. Obviously, however, the 

 growth of epidermal and adipose tissue can but partially ac- 

 count for the observed gain of protein in many of these instances 

 and apparently a distinct increase of the nitrogenous tissue in 

 fattening must be admitted, averaging, in these experiments, 

 about 0.2 pound per day and 1000 pounds live weight or about 

 5.5 per cent of the total increase in live weight. 



TABLE 68. GAIN OF PROTEIN BY MATURE ANIMALS 



1 The nitrogen of the wool is not included in the gain. 



2 The same animals were used also in the slaughter tests. 



