Shrink

[grassfarmer]

What do most people expect the shrink on yearlings sold through the auction to be?
No rodeo getting them rounded up - just a quiet step onto a trailer, 20 minute haul and an overnight stand. How many of you have weighed them at home then matched that with the sale ring weight?

[kato]

We don't have a scale in the yard, so haven't actually done the measurement. I'd also like to hear from someone who has weighed theirs at home.

If they've been on pretty lush grass, I do know it can be significant. That stuff clears the system pretty quickly. Add some heat, and it goes up even more.

[wd40]

Don't be surprised if it's 5% or more.

[rookie]

Consistently saw 650 's go 9% with almost the same description of a quiet load etc...

[DogPatch]

a gallon of water is 10 lbs, plus a pile of crap. Likely will breath out more water than anything.

A 3% shrink on 1000 lbs is only 3 gallons of water. A animal that has been loaded up with water before hand might actually loose more than the 3% and certainly won't right comfortably.

[kato]

On backgrounded calves, shrink can mean the difference between a loss and a profit. It's that important. And the margin is that narrow!

[thamilton]

I've weighed two shipments of cattle this year. One in the spring, yearlings on hay and one this week yearlings on grass. Both times hauled 8 miles weighed on trailer then hauled 1 more mile to auction mart. Overnight stand and sold by noon. Both times shrink was between 8.5 and 9%.