ioo THE CHEMISTRY OF CATTLE FEEDING 



their bodies, as will be seen from the figures in the following 

 table. 



Large quantities of fat are always found in the region of 

 the kidneys which it surrounds and encloses. Fat also occurs 

 in masses or layers in other parts of the body. As previously 

 mentioned, it enters into the composition of bones, and is usually 

 associated, to some extent, with the protein in other tissues. 



Taking the whole bodies of animals, the ratio of fat to 

 protein varies very widely. In store oxen it is about one to 

 one; in fat pigs it is about four to one. A fat sheep may 

 contain about twice as much fat as a lean one. It is very 

 difficult, therefore, to make any exact comparison between 

 animals of different kinds ; but allowing for the variation due 

 to condition it may be said that, in general, pigs contain more 

 fat than sheep, and sheep more than oxen in proportion to 

 their weight. 



It will be seen that the chemical composition of animal 

 bodies varies with the kind, age, and condition. The ordinary 

 limits of variation and the average for all farm animals are as 

 follows : 



COMPOSITION OF ANIMAL BODIES PER CENT. 



Ordinary Limits. Whole 



Water ... 40 to 60 50 



Fat .... 15 45 33 



Protein . . . 10 ,, 16 14 



Ash .... 1-5,, 4-5 3 



Average. 



Dry. 



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