SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE IN TRANSIT. 69 
Table 28. — Summary of north ice stem and southwestern loork of 1911. 
Description. 
Num- 
ber of 
ship- 
ments. 
Num- 
ber of 
cattle. 
Aver- 
age 
weight 
at 
origin. 
Gross shrink- 
age. 
Fill at mar- 
ket. 
Net shrink- 
age. 
Ratio 
of 
shrink- 
age to 
live 
weight 
at 
origin. 
Range. 
Aver- 
age. 
Range. 
Aver- 
age. 
Range. 
Aver- 
age. 
Southwestern range calves 
[Pounds. 
Lbs. 
Pounds. 
Lbs. 
Pounds. 
Lbs. 
Per ct 
en route less than 36 hours . 
3 
211 
246 
11-13 
12 
4. 9 
Northwestern range steers 
en route over 36 hours 
730 
1 193 
106-124 
Ill 
40-41 
4L 
65-83 
70 
6. 
Southwestern range cows en 
route less than 24 hours ... 
g 
1 307 
860 
26-60 
34 
4. 
Southwestern range cows en 
route 24 to 36 hours 
17 
1,383 
907 
4-64 
32 
3.8 
Northwestern range cows en 
3 
126 
1,020 
85-110 
97 
35-37 
36 
50-72 
61 
6.0 
Southwestern mixed range 
cattle en route less than 24 
hours 
13 
849 
783 
+21-71 
26 
3.3 
Southwestern mixed range 
cattle en route 24 to 36 hours. 
5 
150 
751 
19-75 
42 
5.6 
Northwestern mixed range 
cattle en route over 36 
4 
180 
1,066 
25-51 
42 
9-28 
21 
14-32 
21 
2,0 
i Gain in weight instead of a shrinkage. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
1. A big shrinkage may be caused by one of three things, viz., 
(a) A big fill at the point of origin when weighed; (b) failure to 
fill at destination; or (e) a poor, slow run to market. 
2. The shrinkage for the first 24 hours is always greater than for 
any succeeding period of the same length, and the rate of shrinkage 
is also much greater for the first 24-hour period than for any suc- 
ceeding period. 
3. Cattle of the Northwest will shrink from 5 to 6 per cent of their 
live weight while in transit from 36 to 72 hours. 
4. There is practically no difference in the rate of shrinkage of 
spayed heifers and steers of the same size and quality when shipped 
under similar conditions. 
5. The shrinkage of cattle from Montana and the Dakotas to the 
Chicago market was not as great as usually predicted by the cattle- 
men of that section. 
6. The careful handling of cattle while driving to the loading 
pens, and the feeding of some good bright hay just before loading is 
profitable for the shipper. 
7. Too great a fill of water just previous to loading should be 
avoided, the condition of the cattle should approach the normal as 
near as possible when ready to ship. 
8. The practice of holding cattle off feed and water for a long 
period before shipping with the idea that they will take an exceed- 
