Nov. 19,1917 
Study of Steers During Fattening Period 
39i 
The width of the thurls is shown here to be a measurement which 
should be given considerable emphasis in foretelling the gaining capacity 
of steers. It is a measurement which usually is overlooked, but the 
correlation shows that it is more important than many measurements 
usually regarded as especially important. 
Table; VI. —Correlation of the initial distance from chest to ground with gain of steers 
during a 140-day feeding period 
Mean gain.pounds.. 288. 55 ±3.101 
Mean distance from chest to ground.inches.. 22.89 ±0.066 
Standard deviation of gains.pounds.. 54. 77 ±2.192 
Standard deviation of distance from chest to ground, 
inches. 1.18 ±0.047 
Correlation.077 ±0.056 
The distance from chest to ground does not show sufficient correlation 
with the gain to become an important factor in determining the choice 
of “ feeder ” steers, as shown by these results. 
The results shown in Table VII are based on data collected on steers 
during the two winter periods of 1914-15 and 1915-16. All measure¬ 
ments considered in this table are initial measurements, except those 
that show increases of dimensions at the close of the fattening period 
as compared with initial measurements. The coefficient of variation is 
shown to be greatest on increases in circumferences of hind flank, paunch, 
and chest, and the increase of gains in live weight. 
These measurements all relate to increased dimensions and occur in 
those parts of the body that show relatively high percentage increase 
over initial body measurements (Table I). 
Of the initial measurements the greatest coefficient of variation is 
11-9±0.04 per cent for initial live weight. 
In all the chest measurements the coefficients of variation are rela¬ 
tively high: Width at point of shoulder 9.3±0.52, width of fore flank 
10.4±0.6, depth of chest 6.1 ±0.34, and circumference of chest 6.9 ± 
