22 
BULLETIN 25, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
One large shipment of cattle in transit 105 hours was in a snow- 
storm for four days, which increased the shrinkage quite a little over 
that shown by the other classes. At the points where these cattle were 
unloaded for feed and water they were given some prairie hay, but 
the water pipes were all frozen, so they got practically no wate*\ 
At market they filled 30 pounds per head despite the weather. 
The fed cattle in transit under 36 hours shrank 57 pounds per head, 
while those in transit over 36 hours shrank 59 pounds each. This 
was not a large shrinkage for this class of cattle. 
Table 9. — Summary table for 1910-11 work. 
Description of 
shipments. 
Num- 
ber of 
ship- 
Num- 
ber of 
cattle. 
Aver- 
age 
weight 
at 
origin. 
Gross shrinkage. 
Fill at market. 
Net shrinkage. 
Ratio 
of 
Range. 
Aver- 
age. 
Range. 
Aver- 
age. 
Range. 
Aver- 
age. 
sh rink - 
age to 
live 
weight 
at 
origin. 
Range calves in 
Per 
transit less than 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
cent. 
36 hours 
8 
859 
166 
' +1-17 
2-3-13 
9 
i-J-14-13 
!+3 
1+1.8 
Range calves in 
transit over 36 
hours 
5 
475 
209 
9-11 
10 
10-17 
14 
+ 9-0 
1+4 
i +1.9 
Rangecows in t rans- 
it less than 36 
8 
509 
749 
33-105 
56 
5-88 
42 
1+12-40 
14 
1.9 
Mixed range cattle 
in transit less than 
36 hours 
9 
791 
589 
19-71 
34 
2 —6-56 
31 
i +12-50 
3 
. 5 
Mixed range cattle 
in transit 36 to 72 
1.310 
575 
12-39 
35 
18-62 
38 
i +27- 3 
*+3 
I+.5 
Mixed range cattle 
in transit 105 
hours 
2 
588 
541 
42-72 
69 
. 30-35 
31 
7-42 
38 
7.0 
Cottonseed-meal-fed 
steers in transit 
less than 36 hours. . 
4 
680 
1,266 
61-76 
71 
9-21 
14 
41-67 
57 
4.5 
Cottonseed-meal-fed 
steers in transit 
over 36 hours 
6 
616 
862 
47-73 
59 
6.8 
1 Gain in weight instead of a shrinkage. 
2 Cattle did not fill at all but continued losing weight. 
3 Cattle were in transit 54 to 72 hour's, but the figures are for the second portion of the journey, and not 
for the total time in transit. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
The following conclusions may be drawn from the season's work: 
1. The shrinkage of cattle in transit is influenced very materially 
by the following factors : 
(a) The character of the season. If a season has been so dry that 
grass is short and water holes far apart, the shrinkage may be small 
unless feed and water are given just before shipping. 
(b) The distance driven to the loading pens and the care used 
when making the drive. 
(c) The fill at the shipping point. If the cattle have had no 
grass and water for several hours before loading and weighing, 
they will naturally have a small shrinkage in transit. But if they 
