﻿BULLETIN OF THE 



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Contribution from the Bureau of Animal Industry, A. D. Melvin, Chief. 5 

 December 16, 1913. 



THE SHRINKAGE IN WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE IN 



TRANSIT. 



I. Southwestern Shrinkage Work of 1910-11 W. F. Ward. 



II. Northwestern Shrinkage Work of 1911-12 James E. Dow ningi 



HI. Northwestern and Southwestern Shrinkage Work of 1911 W. F.'Ward. 



IV. Summary of the Three Years' Shrinkage Work W.F.Ward. 



I. SOUTHWESTERN SHRINKAGE WORK OF 1910-11. 



By W. F. Ward, 

 Senior Animal Husbandman, Animal Husbandry Division. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The transfer of cattle from the farm or ranch to the market 

 usually necessitates a drive to the railroad and a further journey 

 on the cars. These drives may vary in distance from a few hun- 

 dred yards to more than a hundred miles, depending upon the loca- 

 tion of the ranch, while the railroad journey may consume airy time 

 from a few hours to several days. All cattlemen know that when 

 their stock arrives at market they are usually lighter in weight 

 than when they started. This loss in weight is called shrinkage. 

 The shrinkage in weight of cattle in transit to market is the dif- 

 ference between the weight of the animals at the point of origin 

 and the weight of the animal's on arrival at destination. The net 

 shrinkage is the difference in the weight at the point of origin and 

 the w T eight of the animals when sold at the market. 



In shipping all animals there will be some loss in weight during 

 the journey due to excretions from the alimentary canal, from the 

 urinary organs, and from moisture given off by the lungs in breath- 

 ing. A portion of this loss may be regained at the market by the 

 food and Avater taken into the system. The consumption of this food 

 and water at the market is termed the " fill." The loss in weight 

 which occurs while the cattle are in the cars between the point of 

 origin and the destination is termed " shrinkage en route " or "'shrink- 

 age before fill," and the loss in weight after the animal has had feed, 

 water, and rest is termed the " shrinkage after fill " or the " net 

 shrinkage," or simply as the shrinkage of the animal. In all parts of 

 S472°— Bull. 25—13 1 



