388 Bulletin 91 



From the standpoint of making gains and rapid finish, it is more 

 important to select steers which are vigorous and gentle than to 

 select according to size. Fleshy animals are better than thin ones; 

 for they will be ready for market sooner, and not so wide a margin is 

 necessary with such cattle. Other things being equal, the steers of 

 medium size with short legs, wide, deep bodies, broad foreheads, short 

 well-dished faces, large heart girths, strong loins, large barrels, and 

 showing beef breeding will be best. 



SHRINKAGE IN FAT CATTLE 



A study of the shrinkage in the animals when ready for market 

 was made with the steers in the feeding test. In Arizona the custom 

 has been to stand cattle 12 hours in a dry lot without feed or water 

 or deduct 4 percent from the feed lot weight. 



There is a distinct difference in the shrinkage of cattle, whether 

 they are Aveighed out of the feed lot or after having been driven from 

 One to ten miles through the dust in the warm weather. Cattle driven 

 even a short distance will undoubtedly lose weight more rapidly than 

 when standing or lying down contentedly in the feed lot. The more 

 nervous and restless animals are, the more they will lose in weight. 

 Cattle driven to market will perspire and lose more excrement than 

 when maintained in the feed lots where they are quiet and contented. 



Twenty-three of the thirty-six steers were in the feed lot for 77 

 days and the remaining 13 for 117 days. The method of handling 

 these steers previous to weighing was slightly different. The 23 

 steers were weighed between 4 and 5 p. m. after having received 

 nothing since the morning's feed. The 13 steers received their regu- 

 lar morning feed and about 3 p. m. an additional quantity of four 

 pounds of alfalfa hay per steer. These steers ate most of their hay, 

 and, as water was in the lots, probably drank freely of it. About 

 4:30 p. m. each of the lots were weighed and returned to their respec- 

 tive feed lots; they were again weighed about 8:30 o'clock the next 

 morning. Some of the animals had a small amount of feed left from 

 the morning's rations, and this was removed at 7 p. m. and the water 

 fountains adjusted so the cattle could receive no more water. After 

 weighing the animals the next morning, they were turned back to the 

 feed lots for about an hour, then allowed to mix together in an open 

 space where they frisked around for half an hour. After this the 

 steers were driven to the Mesa stockyards, a distance of two miles, 

 and weighed at 11:45 a. m. The steers were shipped to Phoenix the 

 same evening, unloaded, given hay and water, and shipped to Flagstaff 



