SHRINKING OF SILAGE-FED CATTLE. 39 



slight shrinkage with any lot of cattle shipped such a 

 long distance. In fact, practical shippers and handlers 

 in this State figure the average shrinkage to Jersey City 

 at from 60 to 76 pounds. 



"There does not seem to be any justification, therefore, 

 for claiming that silage fed cattle will drift more than 

 cattle fed in other ways. Wjhen these cattle were sent 

 to Jersey City a representative of the Station who accom- 

 panied them found the buyers much prejudiced against 

 cattle from the South, stating that they did not kill out 

 well, and that the meat was of a dark color, and the bone 

 very hard. Though these cattle presented as good an ap- 

 pearance as many of the corn fed animals shipped from 

 the West and on sale at the same time, the buyers per- 

 sisted in discriminating against them because of the belief 

 that silage fed cattle would not kill out advantageously 

 or make a first-class quality of beef. The cattle followed 

 through the slaughter pens, however, killed out as well 

 and better in many instances than the corn fed cattle 

 from the West, and the meat was of superior quality, the 

 fat and lean being better blended, and the color particu- 

 larly good. This lot of cattle dressed out 56.9 per cent., 

 which is very creditable, considering that they were ordi- 

 nary grade, and fed but 150 days on a ration which has 

 been regarded as eminently unsatisfactory for feeding 

 beef cattle to a finish. These figures seem to amply justify 

 the claim that silage is a most satisfactory roughness for 

 beef cattle, and that animals fed on it will ship well, kill 

 well and produce meat of fine quality. And these conclu- 

 sions seem justified even in the face of competition with 

 western corn fed cattle. 



"The efficiency of silage as a valuable food for Southern 

 stockmen when fed under the conditions prevailing in this 

 test needs no further vindication in the light of the facts 

 here set forth, and should do much to encourage the pro- 

 duction of beef in sections where the natural conditions 

 by reason of the insufficiency of grass are supposed to be 

 a barrier to this phase of animal industry. 



