General Discussion 



389 



the next day, where they were weighed off cars. The weather was 

 quite warm when the 13 steers were shipped to market, but cool and 

 comfortable the day the 23 were shipped. The summary of the 

 weights of the cattle, pounds lost, and the percentage of shrink 

 at difTcrent times are given in Table XVI. 



The 23 steers after being off feed and water for 16 hours lost 1026 

 pounds in weight, or 4.04 percent of the total weight; and the 13 steers 

 under similar conditions, except that they were given about 4 pounds 

 of alfalfa hay, lost a total of 698 pounds or a shrinkage of 4.69 percent. 

 No doubt the large shrinkage in the group of 13 steers was due in 

 part to the steers having taken large quantities of water after consum- 

 ing the alfalfa hay; but the weather was also warmer and this may 

 have been a contributing factor. It is interesting to note, however, 

 that each lot lost fully 4 percent in vC-eight during the 16 hours which 

 elapsed between the weighings. 



Between the time they were weighed at 8:30 a. m. and agam at 

 11:45 a. m., the 23 animals lost a total of 342 pounds and the 13 lost 

 519 pounds. The loss due to shrinkage was 1.40 percent with the 

 large group and 3.66 percent with the 13 steers. It is noteworthy 

 that in 3)4 hours these steers lost an average of 2.23 percent while 

 standing in the feed lots, walking a distance of two miles, and remain- 

 ing in the stock yards. 



TABLE XVI.— STATEMENT OF SHRINKAGE FOR 36 STEERS 



