Nov. 19, 1917 
Study of Steers During Fattening Period 
393 
Table; VIII .—Summary of correlations 
Correlating— 
Correlation 
coefficient. 
Correlating— 
Correlation 
coefficient. 
Gain with initial live 
weight. 
O. 036±0. 036 
. 460± . 044 
Gain with initial length of 
head. 
0. 182 ±0. 037 
Gain with increase in cir¬ 
cumference of chest. 
Gain with initial length 
from point of shoulder 
Gain with initial width of 
to buttock. 
—. 020± . 056 
rear flank. 
• 079±. 083 
Gain with increase in cir¬ 
Gain with initial circum¬ 
cumference of paunch... 
. 3o6±\ 036 
ference of rear flank. 
. 22i± .053 
Gain with initial height of 
Gain with initial height 
withers. 
. 163 ± .054 
of point of shoulder. 
. 061 zb . 056 
Gain with initial width of 
Gain with initial height of 
shoulders. 
. 144 ± -055 
rear flank. 
• 053 ± • °55 
Gain with initial circum¬ 
Gain with initial length of 
ference of paunch. 
. i* 4 ± .055 
hip to buttock. 
.2ji± .053 
Gain with increase in cir¬ 
Gain with initial width of 
cumference of rear flank. 
.203± .055 
loin. 
. io8± . 085 
Width of thurls with 
Gain with initial circum¬ 
height of rear flank. 
. 3 8o ± .049 
ference of chest. 
. 238JZ .053 
Circumference of chest 
Gain with initial depth of 
with height of withers... 
. 621 ± . 034 
chest. 
.1301b . 046 
Width of loin with height 
Gain with initial width of 
of chest from ground.... 
. I 79 ± • 057 
fore flank. 
. 1641b .054 
Width of chest with depth 
Gain with initial distance 
of chest. 
• 365 i .072 
of chest to ground. 
Gain with initial width of 
thurls.; 
• 077± .056 
. 2241b . 054 
Table VIII, a summary of the coefficients of correlation, shows that 
increases in body measurements have a closer relationship with gains 
in live weight than the initial measurements. This would logically 
be expected, since gains are dependent upon the capacity of a steer to 
lay on fat and make growth in bone and body tissue. With the excep¬ 
tion of initial weight, these measurements, as shown in Table VII, also 
had high coefficients of variation. 
The correlation coefficients for the two body circumferences of chest 
and rear flank, the width of thurls (hip joint), and the distance of hip to 
buttock show the closest relationship of all the initial measurements 
with gains in live weight. This suggests the possibilities of using these 
measurements in the selection of feeding steers, at least for experimental 
purposes, as a means of reducing the experimental error caused by in¬ 
dividuality of animals. The measurement of initial weight shows no 
relationship with gains, although this is usually considered one of the 
most important factors in selection of steers for experimental purposes. 
Measurements that show intermediate relationship as indicated by 
coefficients of correlation are width of loin, depth of chest, width of 
fore flank, length of head, height at withers, circumference of paunch, 
and width at shoulders. 
