STATISTICAL STUDY OF BODY WEIGHTS 257 



The average measurements at the conclusion of the fattening 

 period show similarity as follows : The length of head, width of 

 hips, and distance of buttock from hips varying within 0.638 

 inch of each other ; the width of shoulder, front flank, and thurls 

 are almost identical ; and the circumference of the chest and hind 

 flank are more alike than their initial measurements. 



The height has increased more at the withers than at the hips ; 

 thus a 2-year-old steer changes his greatest height from the hips 

 to the withers while receiving market conditions. In circumfer- 

 ence the increase was greater for the hind flank than for the 

 chest ; thus the greater circumference of the chest at the initial 

 measurement becomes less than the circumference of the hind 

 flank in the finished steer. In fattening, the greatest width 

 at paunch and the greatest depth of body at the chest become 

 more nearly alike, as shown by a difference of 3.118 inches at 

 the initial measurement and 1.688 inches at the concluding 

 measurement. 



In all cases the difference between the initial measurement and 

 the final measurement shows an increase in dimensions due to 

 depositions of fat, muscular development and growth. The 

 regions of the body covered by the greatest amount of muscular 

 development show greater increased dimensions than those hav- 

 ing less muscular covering. 



In the regions where the growth would show the greater 

 relative influence the least changes take place as shown in the 

 width of head, length of head, distance from chest to ground 

 and hock to ground. The greatest increase in width took place 

 in the hind flank rather than in the paunch, where it would seem 

 natural to have the greatest increase because of feed capacity 

 and condition. The thick layer of flesh and fat deposits in the 

 region of the hind flank, together with the distension of this 

 region of the body in a fattened steer, are responsible for the 

 greater width in this part of the body. The width of loin, hips, 

 thurls, shoulders, and front flank shows changes in dimensions 

 caused mainly by increased condition of flesh. 



The increase in height at the withers of 4.646 inches is not all 

 due to growth alone, a larger portion of this increase being caused 

 by the flesh covering over the withers and the deposition of fat 

 in the muscular tissues of the shoulder region. The fat deposits 

 and muscular development causes the shoulder blade to be held 

 more rigidly; thus, the body in the chest region rises between 



