240 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



cents per head. The charge for yardage is 7 cents per head. Hay 

 costs from $1.50 to $2.00 per cwt., corn $1.25 per bushel, and oats 

 $1.00 per bushel. 



Monthly weights of Chicago sheep. — The writer tabulated the 

 average monthly weights of sheep and lambs at Chicago for ten years, 

 1913 to 1922 inclusive, and then determined the monthly averages for 

 the entire ten-year period. The average weight for March at 84.1 

 pounds was highest, and the average for June at 73.3 pounds was 

 lowest. The October average at 73.6 pounds was nearly as low as 

 June. Spring lambs evidently account for the June low average, and 

 the fall run of western lambs accounts for the low average in October. 

 The between weights are higher. The general average for the ten 

 years was 77.9 pounds. 



March weights were highest in 7 of the 10 years, April in 2, and 

 January in 1. Lowest monthly weights occured in October 4 times, 

 June 3 times, and in July, September, and November each 1 time. 

 Following are the ten-year averages i^ 



Monthly average weights of sheep and lambs at Chicago for ten years 



Weight Weight 



Month Pounds Month Pounds 



January 81.5 July 73.6 



February 83.0 August 76.9 



March 84.1 September 74.1 



Aoril 83.9 October 73.6 



May 80.7 November 76.6 



June (73.3) December 80.1 



Shrinkage in shipping. — Henry and Morrison report the following 

 figures relative to shrinkage of sheep and lambs in transit: ^ 



Range lambs shipped 1,440 miles shrank from 4.6 to 8.7 per cent 

 and averaged 7.6 per cent. Native lambs shipped 135 to 149 miles 

 shrank 1.3 to 6.8 per cent. Lambs under 100 pounds in transit 4 days 

 shrink 7 to 8 pounds. 



Yearling wethers weighing about 120 pounds and in transit 4 days 

 shrink about 10 pounds. 



Aged wethers and ewes in transit 4 days shrink about 12 pounds. 

 Two-year-old wethers shipped 1,440 miles shrank 5.1 to 8.6 per cent 

 and averaged 6.8 per cent. These figures are based on "filled" weight 

 at the market. 



The fill. — Upon their arrival in the pens at the market, sheep are 

 fed hay and grain and are watered. This constitutes the "fill," and 

 it is important because it has a quieting effect, improves the appear- 

 ance, and increases the weight of the animals. 



1 Compiled from Drovers Journal Year Books of Figures. 

 2Feeds and Feeding, 1915, p. 519. 



