SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE IN TRANSIT. 
53 
Of course, in a case of this kind the shrinkage of the animals 
occurred on the trail, and they were in abnormal condition when first 
weighed. 
An illustration of the above was found in two shipments of cattle 
originating at Dickinson, N-. Dak., on October 13, 1911. One ship- 
ment of 28 head of mixed cattle were driven very slowly for 15 miles 
to the loading pens. They were drifted along, grazing as they went, 
and arrived at the loading pens with a medium fill and looking 
perfectly fresh, as if they had not been driven more than a mile. 
The other shipment of 32 head of similar cattle was rounded up and 
driven 20 miles without water, and held overnight and next morning 
without feed or water. They were very empty when loaded and 
certainly looked bad, showing the kind of treatment they had re- 
ceived. After the fill at market they were 2 pounds heavier than 
when weighed at the loading pens. Both shipments were sent to 
South St. Paul and received similar treatment after being loaded. 
The treatment of these two lots of cattle had been such as to cause 
the shrinkage of the second shipment to take place during the drive 
from the ranch to the loading pens, whereas the first arrived at the 
pens in normal condition and consequently shrank in transit. The 
first shipment showed a loss in weight of 25 pounds per head but 
looked well at market, while the other showed a gain of 2 pounds in 
weight but looked very ragged. This difference in the appearance 
of the two lots of cattle caused a variation in price in favor of the 
first shipment, which far more than offset the difference in shrinkage, 
to say nothing of the loss on the second shipment during the trail to 
the loading point. 
DETAILS OF WORK IN NORTHWEST. 
The shrinkage of range cattle in the Northwest will first be dis- 
cussed, followed by the presentation of the work done in the South- 
west. 
RANGE STEERS IN TRANSIT OVER 36 HOURS. 
In Table 20 are presented the results of the shipment of 730 head 
of range steers to the Chicago market. The first three shipments of 
these cattle were weighed five times, namely, at the point of origin; 
at the feeding station before and after having feed, water and rest ; on 
arrival at their destination; and again after receiving their fill there. 
A complete record was therefore secured on these cattle from the 
time they were loaded near the ranch until they were sold on the 
market. 
The first three shipments in the table were steers of about the 
same size and quality. They were shipped under practically the 
same conditions and were on the road the same length of time. They 
were also unloaded for feed and rest at the same pens and all were 
treated alike. The results obtained from shipping these three lots? 
