392 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



When loaded, the transit should be as rapid as possible. 

 This of course is mainly in the hands of carriers, but it may 

 be materially influenced by the choice of season made by the 

 shipper, when traffic is not congested. Every additional 

 hour spent on the road means additional shrinkage, as ani- 

 mals will not eat or drink freely when in transit by rail. 

 When shipped long distances, the animals will take less 

 harm if hurried on to the place of sale, than if the journey 

 is prolonged by unloading at feeding stations every 24 

 hours. Experience has shown that runs considerably longer 

 than 24 hours conduce to the well being of the cattle by 

 reducing the time in transit, thus shortening the period of 

 privation, notwithstanding the contrary view held by many 

 humane societies. Watchfulness is necessary on the part 

 of the attendant, especially in case of sheep lest they should 

 get down and suffer injury by being trodden on, especially 

 in crowded cars. Overcrowding of cars is, of course, a mis- 

 take, but no harm comes from filling cars to their full capa- 

 city. In shipping long distances weather probabilities 

 should be considered at certain seasons. A blizzard may 

 cause serious loss in transit, and the same is true of ex- 

 cessive heat, especially in the case of swine. 



Delay in unloading is avoided when the animals have 

 been consigned to a commission firm when shipped. The 

 aim should be to unload them not later than 8 o'clock in the 

 morning, before the buyers make their rounds, and hay 

 and water should be present in ample supply. Any effort 

 to induce the animals to drink excessively by giving salt 

 previously or by withholding water, is to be deprecated. 



Loss of weight in marketing. The extent to which 

 finished animals shrink in weight on the way to market is 

 influenced chiefly: (i) By the time occupied in transit; 

 (2) the foods used in fattening and the degree of the 

 finish; (3) the age of the animals; (4) the extent to which 

 they have been exercised while being fattened and (5) the 

 character of the weather. 



