436 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



"What causes heavy shrinkage in cattle? In my judgment it can 

 be traced directly to three causes — water, weariness and excitement. I 

 have found that steers having to ride from two hundred and fifty to 

 three hundred miles are in the worst kind of condition if started on 

 all the water they can hold. On the day before shipping give your cattle 

 about half their usual feed, at the same time and in the same way you 

 have been in the habit of feeding. Give them at the same time all the 

 good bright hay they will eat, and if you have anything extra in quality 

 now is the time to use it. Get them just as full of hay as you can. 

 Now, in the morning, if you have time before moving the cattle, give 

 them all the grain they will eat, and start them of the feed yard." 



Attendants. An attendant usually, though not always, accompanies 

 large shipments by rail. It is customary for railroads to allow one at 

 tendant to a carload of stock, and usually he will be given accommoda- 

 tions in the caboose. It will be necessary for him to see that the stock 

 is at all times properly cared for, and at the end of the journey that the 

 car containing it is placed at the right station, convenient for unloading. 

 A competent attendant in shipments to metropolitan stock yards may 

 often save unnecessary switching in the yards by insisting on a prompt 

 placing lof the car or cars containing live stock. One of the most objec- 

 tionable features of shipping by freight comes from injuries received 

 by stock from the severe and sudden stops in switching, when heavy 

 animals are thrown against the sides of the car or against one another, 

 or are thrown to the floor. A watchful attendant, by properly placing 

 his stock within the car. may prevent animals becoming bruised in this 

 way. 



