1230 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXVIII, No. 12 
SHRINKAGE IN TRANSIT AND DRESSING PERCENTAGE 
The shrinkage in transit, commonly called “drift” in the Appalachian region, 
and the dressing percentages are given in Table V for the first two years. Owing 
to conditions incident to marketing the cattle, the data at the end of the third 
summer were not obtained. They were shipped either on the same day or on 
Fig. 12.—Correlation between the gains of the summer periods and the total gains for the winter and 
summer periods, based on the individual steers 
the day after the final farm weights were taken. The trip to Jersey City usually 
occupied about three days, the cattle being unloaded in transit once for feed and 
water. They were sold and slaughtered soon after reaching market. Variations 
in shrinkage and dressing percentage of the several lots are not considered to be 
sufficiently large for drawing conclusions relative to the methods of winter feeding. 
However, it should be noted that Lot No. 4, which made the largest gain for the 
year, dressed highest, and that Lot No. 1, which made the least gain, dressed 
lowest. 
