The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-30
ADVICE TO CATTLE SHIPPERS
HOW TO GET CATTLE TO MAR
KET WITH LEAST SHRINKAGE

Ship When stock Is In Condition,
without Waiting for Others to
Round Out--Do Not Overload the
Some Practical Suggestions
From Competent Sources.
Although tie receipts CT ca tie at tie Union
stockyards, South st. Paul, during the hot
weather have not been heavy, the effect o.
the temperature upon those arriving mas
sometimes bsen very marked. Tee deaths,
however, in all lines of stock, it Is sa d,
have been unusually light. Un3oab eddy
shippers are becoming Ar-e ard m>re fp-
preciative of the fact that it never pays to
neglect the comfort of their animals, ana
especially on their way to markes, inasIu n
as if anything is wrong the fact Is sure to
be discovered under the varied inspection
which all stock must encounter IF. m the
time of its arrival until it is finally DIS
posed of.
Secretary F. D. Coburn, of the Ka-sls
board OF agriculture, SOM time ego s.ar ed
out to secure the views Of number OF N N
whose experience with besf cattle rend rel
handling of animals prepared for ard en-
route to the market. The following a. e some
of the points that were submitted:
In the first place, large m tjo ity of III,
feeders make a mistake in holling fat cat
tie that are ready for market; fof insta- ce,
a is feeding 100 to $50 head Ct S rs,
and there are, say, one-half or two hi. d. of
the cattle that are fat and cou be ship ,el
out for the simple reason that all III il t
tie are not ready, and they hold on to tn
good ones until the entire bu-ch IS a6y.
We are continually advising our custo LerS
to ship out all fat cattle as faS: as ready.
BY doing they divide their risk. The cat
tie that are left have better clanca to i'm
prove, and there is more profit 10 be mace n
TINS way on account OF the small margin
there is in keeping matur, steers, to S
class of cattle make little gain compar,
with half fat steers. Ano h-r mist2ks that is
made is in shipping cGI.le OH grass. We
have had a number of ms ance3 VIII re cur
customers have shipped cattle that were fed
on the grass without putting them in a Y
lot for day or two bsfore shipment
feeding nothing but corn, GA and ny, ana
by not doing the cattle on arrival look
grassy, their hair looks shiny. they sh ink
almost double what they would if handl d
in the proper way and they dJnt sell wi hi
Ice to l5c per hundred land in some cases
more) of cattle that are put in d ,ot AMI
fed nothing but corn, hay and cats for short
time before shipment.
Overlooking is very bad feature, but We
might add that we are not troubled as much
in this respect as We were before the chan &c
of freight by cents per 100 pounds lee NE
established. little advice on this subject
is still quite necessary, as we have custom
ers FIRE uently who overload their ca tie and
as a result, they make an extra shrink G :;
they do not look well at market, which, as
you are aware affects the sale fully Ice p r
loo lbs; this means direct loss to the ship
per of Toe per 100, and the extra shrir ka e,
which is quite a large itsm, that could b.
saved with proper management.
The best investment a shipper ever maze
was in putting extra good bedd ng in his
cars. This is point which should b. W II
locked after. as it means big swing from
loss of possibly dead or crippled ca tle as
well as the shrinkage. We think another
point that could be well covered Juld be,
where parties are shipping stock, 10 clas lily
1t as much as possible. In this way the cars
are more evenly loaded the stock ships
much better, and it also saves considerable
delay upon arrival here. The work of s.. t.
ing and shaping stock at this end Is very
small tom but, by Classifying the stock IN
the country it means economy of time a.
the market. Cattle handle better if thy do
not get too much water just before sbis m ent.
The golden rule in shipping all kinds Of at
tie is to get them as quickly as possible from
range, ranch, farm or feed yard to market.
Notably is this the case with rangers. l.
has been proven tine and again that II nge
bullock shrinks every hour after he leaves
all cattl, viii d. 50, bat n~tiv,s do MT f. ct
nor are they liable to get so bruised as tae
former.
Grass cate, as a rule, do not ship wei.
On the pasture they look vel ard m ny a
buyer has been deceived by tie appearance
OF drove of steers in grass field with full
bite. To ship such cattle is hard ia k, a
is Invariably; Disappointing. but it has to
p!-n t? PLACE such cattle in pen and f. ed
them hay Tor a day or two. The secret of
slipping all classes OF cattle is to place them
on the cars full of feed, but with as little
moisture as possible If you ship steer full
of water he is apt to have loose bow Is and
show up in the yards badly. Properly handed
cattle should arrive in thi. sly, bu. in go ID
condition to water freely. Many of our shin
pers thing that by sailing their cSttla, o.
by feeding them oats, or by other scaeming,
they can fool the buyers This is mons
The huyars are just as sharp as the owners,
and while many of them say nothing, You
often them ride into pen and out again
without tie courtesy of bid on this account.
It always acts against the shipper to use
unnatural means. To Eastern buyers it is
a matter of great Importance that cattle
should he in good condition when pu-cSas cd,
so as 70 stand further shipment. When cat
tie drink too freely they are apt tn founder
and break down. In this c5ndit' on the
competition, and as a natura! consequence
cattle "{ten go below their value when in tn s
condition.
whether in pasture or dry lot, as to the
above. Only they are much more silly
handled in shipment ard do not Show much
distress in their changed circumstances. AS
to feed on the road, nothing equals good,
sweet hay. 1t beats corn or other grains, be-
cause it is easily digested, and does rot fever
the animals. Simple methods and simple fe d
are the best that be used. AS to water
according TO the weather.