SLAUGHTERING AND CURING 525 



veloped in all parts and of good size, in addition to 

 being- extremely fat, are always the best dressers. The 

 development of muscle means enlargement of the cells 

 that make it, and fattening means the depositing of fat 

 about muscle fibers and around the muscles of the body. 

 The extreme development of muscle and fat then must 

 give the extreme weight that can be secured from the 

 carcass. 



"The viscera does not increase in weight propor- 

 tionately as the development takes place, therefore there 

 is a greater yield of edible meat. Taking ordinary hogs 

 as they run as regards fatness and development after 

 being off feed for only 12 hours, the writer has found 

 that the yields are about as follows for various weights : 



Per Cent 

 Pounds Dressed 

 Weight of hog lOO 72 



" " 150 73 



" " 200 75 



" " " 250 77 



" " 300 79 



" " " 350-500 80-87 



"It will be noticed that the small, immature, unfinished 

 hog dresses the least, and the large, mature and finished 

 hog dresses out the most weight of carcass. For every 

 100 pounds additional to live weight the hog increases 

 in yield approximately four per cent." 



