SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE IX TRANSIT. 

water before loading, a severe change of the weather may prevent 
them from taking any water at all. and they may weigh up light at 
the point of origin, which will have a tendency to produce a smaller 
shrinkage than if filled under normal conditions. Then, too, a 
severe change of weather at the market may likewise prevent the 
animals from taking a fill. 
THE FILL AT MARKET. 
The fill taken at market depends largely upon the weather. Cat- 
tle arriving at market where everything is coated with snow and ice, 
or during a blizzard, or when a kk norther " is blowing, will usually 
drink very little water and may eat little feed. They weigh up light 
and the shrinkage is great. Cold, rainy. windy weather prevents a 
good fill from being taken. Close, warm, muggy weather is also 
detrimental to a good fill for fat animals, as they have no appetite 
and will eat and drink little. If cattle have four hours or more for 
rest, feed, and water, and the weather is mild, with the sun shining, 
a good fill is practically assured. Cattle that have had a very long, 
hard journey have a tendency; to lie down soon after reaching the 
pens, instead of taking a fill. In a case of this kind, if they have 
several hours' rest, they may then take a good fill. The fill can be 
increased by giving the animals hay only on arrival and turning 
them to the water an hour or two before the market opens. 
TREATMENT OF CATTLE AT MARKET. 
The treatment cattle receive on arrival at the market depends upon 
the hour of arrival, the class of cattle, and the journey they have had. 
If they arrive in the afternoon or early night, they may be given a 
little water and an abundance of hay. Early the next morning water 
may be turned on and kept before them all day. If the cattle are 
from the range, they will receive only hay and water. If they are 
from feed lots, the shipper may have them fed some crushed corn, 
or other feed early on the morning of sale day. 
Cattle arriving just before the market opens or during the morn- 
ing of the sale day will be turned to feed and water immediately. 
These animals, unless very weary, usually take a medium fill and 
are likely to be sold before they lose much of it. The care of the 
cattle after arrival is in the hands of the commission men, and they 
can usually be depended upon to see that the animals have every 
opportunity to take a good fill. It is not always desirable, how- 
ever, for cattle to have an excessive fill at market, as the buyers are 
always on the lookout for such animals and will bid correspondingly 
lower on them. The increase in weight is seldom great enough to 
overcome the decrease in value of the animals because of their 
