SHRINKAGE OF WEIGHT OF BEEF CATTLE IX TRANSIT. 
77 
Cattle shipped in " feed and water '* ears do not seem to shrink 
any more than cattle handled by the common method of unloading 
to feed in transit, but they do not look as well at market, since they 
oftentimes have a drawn appearance. This is only natural, as these 
cars are usually loaded the same as ordinary cars, and the cattle can 
not lie down to rest. 
The shrinkage in transit may be increased by sudden changes of 
temperature, or by cold rains or snow. 
The fill at market varies greatly with different cattle, or with 
various shipments of the same class of cattle when weather conditions 
are not the same. The fill depends to a large extent upon the time 
of arrival. If cattle arrive about four to six hours before they are 
offered for sale they will usually take a good fill. They may take a 
good fill, however, and then be held until so late in the day before 
being sold that they will lose most of it. This is especially true with 
range cattle, as they are usually nervous and do not eat much in the 
daytime, while crowds of people are about. 
Cattle that arrive the afternoon before being sold usually take a 
good fill if the weather is favorable and they are given the same kind 
of feed to which they have been accustomed. 
When cattle have undergone a long journey to market requiring 
from 60 to 100 hours, the character of the accommodations at the 
unloading station was found to affect the shrinkage of the animals. 
Where the pens were sheltered, well drained, and located in a quiet 
place the cattle took a nice fill and a good rest, and the shrinkage 
was smaller than when they were unloaded under less favorable 
conditions. 
SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS. 
The three years' work may be briefly summarized as follows : 
1. The shrinkage of cattle in transit depends very materially upon : 
(a) The conditions existing at the time of shipping and upon the 
treatment received during the drive to the loading pens. 
(6) The length of time the cattle were held without feed and water 
before being loaded. 
(c) The nature of the fill which the cattle had before loading. If 
it was of succulent grass, beet pulp, or silage, a great loss in weight 
was experienced. 
(d) The weather conditions at the time of loading and while in 
transit. 
(e) The character of the run to market. Slow, rough runs nat- 
urally caused a greater shrinkage. 
(/) The kind of treatment they received at unloading stations. 
(g) The time of arrival at market. If they arrived just before 
being sold, the fill was small. Cattle that were shipped a long clis- 
