30 BULLETIN" 25, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
pose. The oats were always consumed. An Illinois shipper bedded 
the cars deep with millet and filled the racks with choice alfalfa hay, 
the cattle having been fed all winter on clover and timothy hay. 
It seems quite reasonable in view of the foregoing that when a 
change of feed is provided in the ear racks it will be consumed. 
Moreover it has been observed that cattle are more contented and 
slightly less susceptible to excitement when they have been watered 
and fed liberally. If this be true, then it is fair to presume that 
when thus fortified for the journey the animals will experience the 
transfer from the farm to the market with the least shrinkage and 
arrive in the best physical condition possible under the conditions. 
WEIGHING WARM AND COOL. 
Throughout the feed-lots districts of the Middle West the rail- 
roads have provided platform scales at their principal stations, and 
it is a common practice among shippers to weigh their stock before 
loading in the cars for market. Many shippers keep an accurate 
account of the weights, and when the statement of the sale weights 
at market reaches them they are able at once to ascertain the amoimt 
of shrinkage experienced in the journey from point of origin to 
destination. 
Some of the largest cattle raisers maintain platform scales on their 
farms, which enable them to keep strict account of the progress their 
animals are making during the feeding season. It was observed that 
animals which had been subjected to frequent weighing were more 
tractable and sustained less shrinkage in handling. Most of the 
farmers who have platform, scales weigh their cattle just before start- 
ing for the railroad station or before the last feed is given. All of 
the weights thus taken are when the cattle are cool. 
Where scales are provided it is the prevailing custom for cattle 
destined for market to be weighed promptly on arrival at the rail- 
road station yards. The reason why the animals are weighed 
promptly on arrival is because it is more convenient for the shippers. 
The arrangement of the pens is such that- it is easier to weigh on 
arrival and while the animals are warm than later on when they 
have cooled. It should be kept in mind that when the weights are 
taken on the farm previous to departure the cattle are cool, while the 
weights at the station are taken when the animals are warm. In 
this connection it is desired to call attention to the difference between 
weights taken when the animals are cool and when they are warm. 
No extended investigation was made into the matter of how much 
cattle shrink in cooling. From the experience of veteran shippers 
it was learned that cattle weighing around 1,200 pounds would shrink 
