32 



BEEF PRODUCTION 



termine the effect of that factor on the margin necessary 

 to pay out, thus : 



Margins 



$1.49 

 1.52 



Shrinkage, pounds 



15.0 



22.5 

 25.0 

 50.0 

 75.0 



1.53 

 1.64 

 1.75 



This shows that 25 pounds shrinkage per steer 

 corresponds very closely to eleven cents per hundred- 

 weight in margin required to break even. That is, 

 every additional 25 pounds in average shrink means a 

 loss of eleven cents per hundredweight on the cattle. 



It is desirable in making estimates on a feeding oper- 

 ation to approximate these incidental expenses as 

 closely as possible. The following figures are interesting 

 as showing the weights on which freight is paid, com- 

 pared with the weight of feeders when bought at market 

 and their weight on arrival at the feed lots before filling. 

 These are from records of feeding steers bought in Chicago 

 by the Illinois Experiment Station. 



Where cars are loaded above the minimum weight, 

 and of course they should be, the weight on which freight 

 charges is based is ordinarily very near the weight of 

 feeders as purchased. This is shown in the above tabic. 

 In the case of fat steers shipped to market, the following 

 figures show the weights of a representative carload 

 shipped from the Illinois Station : 



