﻿SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OE BEEF CATTLE IN TRANSIT. 7 



FACTORS AFFECTING SHRINKAGE. 



There are many factors, any one of which may affect the loss in 

 weight of cattle during transit. This alone makes the task of com- 

 paring the shrinkage of different shipments of cattle a tedious and 

 at the same time difficult problem, as the chance of error is great. 

 One shipment of cattle may show a shrinkage of 20 pounds per 

 head, and a similar bunch of cattle shipped under seemingry the same 

 conditions may show a shrinkage of 40 pounds. While variations 

 are usually not quite so radical as this, it oidy emphasizes the point 

 that to get an average of the shrinkage of various classes large num- 

 bers of animals must be used. The greater the number of cattle 

 used the smaller will be the chance of error. 



EFFECT OF THE SEASON. 



One of the general factors that affect the shrinkage of cattle in 

 shipping is the character of the season and the effect it has had upon 

 pasture grasses, water supply, etc. During a very dry year, when 

 pasture grasses are short and when the water supply has dimin- 

 ished until it is a long distance between water holes, the animals 

 usually arrive at the loading point practically empty, or with far 

 less than a normal fill. This is especially true if the cattle have 

 been driven a long distance, say from 50 to 75 miles, for they will 

 have had little time to graze and will have secured little feed in the 

 four or five hours' time each day while held along the trail. In con- 

 sequence of these conditions, the cattle will have shrunk very materi- 

 ally in weight during the drive to the loading pens, and will weigh 

 up light there. Many times, too, the last watering place may be 

 se^ eral miles from the loading pens, and as many cattlemen in the 

 Southwest prefer loading their stock without having any water 

 in the pens the cattle weigh up light, and the shrinkage in transit 

 is small. If a good fill is taken at market, the small shrinkage in 

 transit may be completely overcome. Such conditions were experi- 

 enced throughout Texas in 1910, and the data shown for that year 

 must be considered in the light of these conditions. During a nor- 

 mal year or one with plenty of rain, when grass is abundant and 

 water plentiful, the cattle may arrive at the pens full, or with a 

 normal fill, and absolutely different results in shrinkage will occur. 

 The season is therefore one of the important factors worthy of con- 

 sideration. 



LENGTH AND CHARACTER OF TRAIL TO LOADING POINT. 



The distance driven from the farm or the ranch and the methods 

 of driving or caring for the cattle while on the trail may also ma- 

 terially affect the shrinkage. If the cattle were driven some distance 



