﻿54 BULLETIN 2a, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



of steers, each of which consisted of two to five carloads, should give 

 a fair average for this class of cattle. 



These three shipments were composed of high-grade Hereford 

 steers, 3 and 4 years old, and were in good flesh. They were good 

 grass-fat steers, showing quality and breeding, and were very smooth 

 for range cattle. They were drifted from the ranch to the loading 

 pens, being herded along the way. All were in good condition when 

 loaded. In weight they ranged from 1,225 to 1,420 pounds each at 

 the point of origin, and were in transit 35 hours from the loading 

 points to Staples, Minn., where they were unloaded for feed and rest. 

 During this stage of the journey the shrinkage for each lot varied 

 from 70 to 96 pounds per head, the average for all being 79 pounds. 

 "While at Staples they took on an average fill of 40 pounds, leaving a 

 net shrinkage <jf 39 pounds per steer for the first 35 hours in transit. 

 The fill taken by each lot was almost exactly the same. 



The run from Staples to Chicago, the second stage of the journey, 

 required 35 hours, or the same as for the first stage. The average 

 shrinkage for the second stage was 72 pounds, as compared with 79 

 pounds for the first stage. The average fill taken at Chicago was 41 

 pounds, leaving a net shrinkage of 31 pounds per head for the second 

 stage. The average net shrinkage for the first Stage, as stated above, 

 was 39 pounds. The fill taken by each shipment of cattle was very 

 uniform at Chicago as well as at Staples, and the average fill at each 

 place was practically the same, being 41 and 40 pounds, respectively. 

 The average time in transit for the whole journey was 70 hours, and 

 the total average net shrinkage per head was 70 pounds. 



The last two shipments in the table originated on the Standing 

 Bock Indian Eeservation at Walker, S. Dak., and were shipped to 

 Chicago. These were all high-grade Hereford steers that had been 

 raised in Wyoming and shipped to South Dakota for grazing. All 

 were 3 and 4 year olds of good breeding and quality. They were 

 shipped over the Milwaukee road in " feed and water " cars. The 

 treatment each bunch of cattle received before shipping and during 

 transit was the same. Several days were taken in rounding them up. 

 They were herded on good grass (Buffalo grass) until time for ship- 

 ping. They were cut out the day before shipping and herded the 

 morning of the shipping day for five hours on grass and near water, 

 and were then cut into car lots, penned, and loaded. 



The first shipment consisted of 13 carloads, or 315 head, and the 

 second shipment of 8 cars, or 212 head. The weather was fine at time 

 of loading and continued so until the cattle were sold. The first ship- 

 ment was delayed 20 hours because of a wreck, and the cattle were 

 consequently held in the cars for 76 hours. The second shipment 

 made good time, being in transit but 55 hours. Each car of cattle 

 was given 2 bales of prairie hay and some water at Montevideo, Minn. 



