﻿26 BULLETIN 25, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE FILL AT MARKET. 



Under the present system of marketing beef animals the amount 

 of weight taken on after their arrival and before their sale is al- 

 lowed the shipper by the purchaser. This extra weight is produced 

 by feeding and watering soon after the cattle are released from the 

 cars. The more the animals eat and drink after arrival and before 

 sale the greater will be the weight taken on. Every pound of 

 weight thus taken on has an equivalent in money, so that the fill at 

 market is important to the shipper in that it is a distinct gain. 

 Furthermore, every pound of fill at, market reduces in like propor- 

 tion the shrinkage that has taken place while the cattle were in tran- 

 sit., Thus, if a steer shrinks 50 pounds from point of origin to 

 market and fills 25 pounds before it is sold there is but 25 pounds 

 net shinkage to represent the transfer from farm to market. 



There is no method of insuring a good fill at market that is 

 practical or humane. As an old feeder and shipper once remarked, 

 " One can never tell what a steer will do." This statement was 

 predicated on long experience, and its truthfulness is attested by 

 many other shippers. Some call a good fill luck, but it is not to be 

 denied that conditions play a prominent part. If a system of han- 

 dling could be perfected whereby a good fill at market could be 

 counted on the shippers of beef cattle would have a difficult problem 

 solved that is costing them no small amount of money and effort. 



The prevailing custom at the market places in this country affords 

 ample opportunity for cattle to eat and drink liberally. Animals 

 may continue to fill from time of arrival until sold, and the amount 

 they consume is not restricted by any stockyards rule or regulation. 

 It is of interest in this connection to note the rules and regulations 

 prevalent in two European countries. 



CUSTOMS IN SOME FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



In Germany meat food animals in the stockyards at the principal 

 markets can not be fed after 8 o'clock in the morning. This rule is 

 in effect until the animals are sold or the market closes for the day, 

 which is generally about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. In some sections 

 of Germany animals in the stockyards may not be fed after 7 o'clock 

 in the morning until the market closes. Another interesting regula- 

 tion now in force in Munich and quite generally throughout 

 Germany has to do with the quantity of feed that may be given each 

 animal at feeding time after arrival at the stockyards. 



The following is translated from the " Feeding Kegulations " of 

 the public stockyards in Munich, Germany: 



1. The feeding of live stock in the stockyards must not take place between the 

 hours of S a. m. and 4 p. m. 



2. The feeding and watering of animals must he performed by the owner or 

 his agent. Only feed delivered by the employees of the stockyards may be used. 



