MARKETING CATTLE WHEN FINISHJCD 299 



they are and the higher the finish, the greater will be 

 the distress of the journey and consequently the greater 

 the loss of weight. While the shrinkage, as has been 

 shown, varies greatly, under average conditions, it will 

 not usually be much less than 5 per cent when the 

 animals are to be shipped long distances. 



Disposal at the yards. — When cattle are shipped to 

 be sold at the stock yards, usually it is better in every 

 way to consign them to some reputable commission 

 house. Among the advantages of so doing are the fol- 

 lowing: (i) The cattle are cared for with more prompt- 

 ness than would be otherwise possible, providing the 

 commission firm has duly been informed of the time and 

 place of shipment. (2) Being more familiar with the 

 grading of the animals for sale, they can generally do 

 this to better advantage than the owner. (3) Being 

 more familiar with every step to be taken, the animals 

 will be disposed of with more dispatch than would be 

 possible on the part of any outsider. (4) Being ac- 

 quainted with all the ins and outs of selling, they are in 

 a position to make the most out of the cattle that can 

 be obtained for them. It is to the interest of the com- 

 mission firm to do the best that it can for its employer, 

 as in its line reputation is the most important asset. 



The cattle are no sooner left at the unloading chute 

 than they are unloaded with all possible dispatch, 

 whether they arrive in the night or during the day. They 

 are counted when put into the yards and locked in them. 

 In the early morning they are fed and watered under 

 instructions b}^ employees of the stock yards company. 

 The food and water are furnished by the company. In 

 some instances the cattle are sold without grading, as 

 grading may not be necessary. In other instances they 

 are graded according to quality and sold as different lots 

 on the basis of the grading. In some instances they are 

 sold to one and the same buyer, notwithstanding the 

 different grades. In other instances they go to dif- 



