288 



HOUSE-FEEDING OF CATTLE 



carcase weight is got by multiplying the live-weight by 3 and 

 dividing by 5. (2) Fair killing animals yield 57 per cent, of 

 carcase : multiply by 4 and divide by 7. (3) Wastefully fat 

 exhibition animals yield 70 per cent, of dressed beef: multiply 

 by 7 and divide by 10. (4) Extra prime show-beasts yield 66'6 

 per cent. : multiply by 2 and divide by 3. (5) Old fat cows and 

 young store cattle dress to half their live-weight, two-year-old 

 stores to 53 per cent., and three-year-old stores to 56 per cent. 



When cattle are weighed at home, allowance should be 

 made in accordance with the following data for the loss 

 which is sure to occur while they are being taken to market. 

 Sir John Lawes estimates the loss by fasting twenty-four 

 hours at about 5 to 5j per cent, of the gross live- weight = 50 

 to 55 Ibs. in an ox weighing 1000 Ibs. John Swan & Sons, 

 of Edinburgh, from their extensive experience in weighing 

 their live cattle, estimate the loss at about 5| to 7 per cent. 

 = 80 Ibs. in a bullock of 1400 Ibs., or, if in addition to fasting it 

 come by rail a long distance, as much as loolbs. The differ- 

 ence is easily accounted for by the greater rapidity with which 

 a bullock is " emptied " when excited by travelling. The loss 

 of original total live-weight may fairly be estimated at from 5 

 to about 7 per cent., according to the treatment the animal has 

 undergone during the period of fasting. 



The prices of cattle in the Edinburgh market in the 

 spring of 1906 were, for one-year-olds, from 28s. to 305. per live 

 cwt., and for two-year-olds from 28s. to 323. : three-year-olds, 

 being practically out of the market, were not quotable. Butchers' 

 cattle at the same time ranged from 345^0375. per cwtlive-weight. 



The following table shows the relative proportions and 

 prices of animals in various stages of development at the 

 Edinburgh sales in the spring of 1889 : 



