SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE IX TRANSIT. 
13 
MIXED RANGE CATTLE IN TRANSIT LESS THAN 36 HOURS. 
The shipments of Table 3 were in transit for an average of 22 
hours. The average weight of the 791 head was 589 pounds, being 
small because of the admixture of calves and yearlings with these 
cattle. Further evidence of the abnormal conditions that prevailed 
when the shipments were made is shown by the results in this table. 
The first shipment of 29 cattle from Colorado. Tex., had a good fill 
when loaded and shrank 50 pounds per head in transit, and when put- 
on feed at market would not fill, taking on but 1 pound per head 
before being sold. The result was they showed a large loss in weight. 
The same was true of the 35 head from Big Spring, except these 
continued to shrink after reaching market, weighing 6 pounds lighter 
when sold than on arrival. 
The reverse, however, is true of four of the shipments, which took 
a rill at market greater than the shrinkage in transit, leaving the 
cattle heavier when sold than when loaded at the point of origin. 
This was due to a certain extent to bad treatment in handling the 
cattle previous to loading. The shipment of 169 cattle, for instance, 
had been on the trail for 5 days previous to loading, with very little 
to eat or drink. Another consignment had no water for 30 hours 
before being loaded and. of course, weighed up very light. The con- 
signment of 141 head were thin cows that had been trailed 2 days 
with very little grass or water. TVTien conditions of treatment are 
such as just named, it is only to be expected that cattle will be very 
empty and weigh up light at the loading pens, and if they get a 
chance to fill well at market, the fill may overcome the small shrink- 
age experienced in shipping. 
The grand average presents the fact that the cattle shrank 31 
pounds in transit, and subsequently filled 31 pounds at the market, 
leaving a net shrinkage of but 3 pounds per head. The results 
reported in Table 2 show that the shrinkage was 11 pounds greater 
per head on cows weighing 750 pounds than on mixed cattle, which 
were almost 200 pounds smaller. 
In addition to the cattle recorded in the table, we have a record 
of 34 head, loaded at Colorado. Tex. = which were 25 hours in transit 
and weighed 075 pounds per head on loading and 671 pounds when 
sold at market, thus showing a net shrinkage of 1 pounds. These 
cattle had no water for 15 hours before loading, but as the record of 
shrinkage and fill at market were not secured, they are omitted from 
the table. 
