882 
SIR J. B. LAWES AND DR. J. H. GILBERT ON THE COMPOSITION 
Not much stress should be laid on the exact quantities of the total ash, or of the 
individual mineral constituents, in the actual weights of the particular animals 
analysed, as shown in Table VI., as the actual weights and condition of animals 
coming under similar designations may vary considerably. Subject to the reservation 
here implied, it may be stated that a calf weighing 160 lbs. carried off less than 
10 lbs. of total mineral matter ; oxen weighing from 1,200 to 1,400 lbs. from 55 to 
60 lbs. ; a fat lamb about 2^ lbs. ; a store sheep under 3 lbs ; a fat sheep from to 
3^ lbs. ; and a very fat sheep of nearly 240 lbs. live-weight, twice as much, or more 
than 7 lbs. The pigs again, contained less than sheep in proportion to their weight. 
The calf carried off about 4 lbs. phosphoric acid=between 8 and 9 lbs. of phos¬ 
phate of lime, little more than half-a-pound of potash, and immaterial amounts of 
other mineral constituents. The oxen carried off between 22 and 23 lbs. phosphoric 
acid=less than 50 lbs. of phosphate of lime, and about 2b lbs. of potash. The fat 
lamb carried off less than 1 lb. phosphoric acid=only about 2 lbs. of phosphate of 
lime, the store sheep and an ordinary fat sheep rather more=between 2-|- and 3 lbs. 
phosphate of lime, whilst the amount of potash in any of these animals would only be 
from 2\ to 3 ounces. There would be proportionally greater variation in the actual 
weight of pigs sold off the farm than of sheep ; and, for this reason, it is especially in 
their case, though it is so in that of the other animals also, better to consider the 
amount of mineral constituents lost to the farm in them in relation to a given live- 
weight rather than in the actual live-weight. 
Table VII. which shows the amount of the different constituents in carcass, in offal, 
and in the entire body, of 1,000 lbs. fasted live-weight, of the different animals, is much 
more instructive. 
In the first place 1,000 lbs. live-weight of calves or oxen is seen to carry olf much 
more mineral matter than 1,000 lbs. live-weight of lambs or sheep, and 1,000 lbs. live- 
weight of pigs much less than sheep. In the particular cases in question, there were 
46 lbs. of total mineral matter per 1,000 lbs. live-weight of the lean ox of less actual 
weight, and scarcely 39 lbs. in an equal weight of the fatter animal. The difference 
is in the right direction, but doubtless somewhat excessive ; the fatter and heavier 
animal having actually less total mineral matter. Whilst 1,000 lbs. live-weight of 
oxen may thus contain 40 lbs. or even nearly 50 lbs. of mineral matter, the same 
weight of sheep will carry off only about 30 lbs. or less, and the same live-weight of 
pigs less still, and sometimes very much less. In all cases by far fhe larger proportion 
of the total mineral matter is in the collective carcass parts ; and in the case of the 
pigs the proportion so distributed would be much greater than the Table shows, as 
there the head and feet are included with the offal, whilst in practice they are weighed 
with the carcass. 
Referring to the amounts of the most important mineral constituents, whilst 
1,000 lbs. live-weight of calves or oxen may carry off from 30 to 40 lbs. of phosphate 
of lime, the same weight of sheep would carry off only about 26 lbs. or less, and an 
