SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OF 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 seemingly the same 
conditions may show a shrinkage of 40 pounds. While variations 
are usually not quite so radical as this, it only 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 
several 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 fa^rm 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 
