16 



THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



portion of fat than older ones (cf. fat calf and fat ox, or 

 fat lamb and fat sheep). As fattening proceeds, the 

 proportion of fat increases very considerably; in fact, 

 may amount to double that of the store animal (sheep). 



In the " carcass " the proportion of fat varies from 

 1-3 to 7 per cent, in excess of that found in the entire 

 body. The chief fats present in the carcass are stearin, 

 palmatin, and olein; the last named being liquid at 

 ordinary atmospheric temperature. 



The Composition of Increase in Live Weight 

 during fattening was calculated by Lawes and Gilbert 

 for farm animals, with the following results : 



The chief points to notice are that two-thirds of the 

 increase in live weight during fattening is fat, while 

 only a fourteenth consists of lean meat (protein). 



Mineral Matter (Ash). This is concentrated to a 

 large extent in the bony skeleton, although it is fairly 

 abundant in muscle, blood, etc. 



In the entire animal the proportion rarely exceeds 

 5 per cent, of the weight of the body, and is sometimes 

 much less. The body of the ox is richest in minerals, 

 and that of the pig poorest. The proportion diminishes 

 as fattening proceeds. 



The carcass is slightly richer in mineral matter than 

 the entire body. 



It will now be instructive to study in greater detail 



