STATISTICAL STUDY OF BODY WEIGHTS 259 



The results shoArn in Table III. are based on clata collected 

 on steers during the two winter periods of 1914-15 and 1915-16. 

 All measurements considered in this table are initial measure- 

 ments except those that show increases of dimensions at the close 

 of the fattening period as compared with the initial measure- 

 ments. The coefificient of variation is shown to be greatest on 

 increases in circumference of hind flank, paunch, and chest, 

 and the increase in gains in live weight. 



These meavsurements all relate to increased dimensions and 

 occur in those parts of the body that show relatively high per- 

 centage increase over initial body measurements (Table I.). 



Of the initial measurements the greatest coefficient of variation 

 is 11.9 + 0.04 per cent, for initial live weight. In all the chest 

 measurements the coefficients of variation are relatively high: 

 Width at point of shoulder 9.3 + 0.52, width of fore flank 10.4 

 + 0.6, depth of chest 6.1 + 0.34, and circumference of chest 

 6.9 + 0.39. Likewise the mid and posterior regions of the body 

 show variations, the rear flank with a coefficient of variation of 

 8.7 + 0.48, circumference of rear flank 6 + 0.34, width of loin 

 7.5 ± 0.43, width of thurls 5.9 + 0.34, circumference of paunch 

 11 ± 0.62 and distance of hips to buttock 5.2 + 0.29. 



The measurements affected most by growtli show the least 

 variations and include the distance of shoulder point, rear flank, 

 and withers from the ground, length of head, and distance of 

 shoulder point to buttock. 



In general, Table III. shows the greatest variation in those 

 regions of the body which change most in a fattening steer and 

 those regions affected most by deposition of fat and development 

 of muscular tissue. 



