Shrink results from the stress cattle experience during processing, transporting and marketing. Shrink costs the buyer and the seller but it can be managed. Reducing cattle stress will help producers reduce lost value on marketed cattle.

Cattle in all age, weight and finish ranges may experience the two kinds of shrink—fill shrink and tissue shrink. Fill shrink, also know as excretory shrink, is the loss of digestive system contents, manure and urine. This type of shrink can be caused by the stress of change or the withholding of feed and water. Cattle normally lose 2% of their body weight at night but if feed and water are withheld overnight this increases to 6% loss in weight. This weight loss is quickly recovered in a day or two once cattle are back on feed and water. Tissue shrink is the loss of fluids from body tissues. This occurs when cattle go long periods without feed and water and then are subject to other types of stress. Stress can be caused by events such as long distance trucking or rough handling. Tissue shrink occurs when cattle experience over 6% weight loss. Cattle experiencing tissue shrink may take from 10 to 36 days to recover their selling weight. Excessive shrink can affect finished cattle by increasing the number of dark cutters on a load or decreasing dressing percentage. It also has a detrimental effect on marbling and tenderness.

Just the act of weighing cattle causes some shrink. Calves can lose 3% of their weight during sorting and loading. Every 30 minutes spent moving cattle around in handling facilities will reduce their weight by 0.5%. Use quiet handling methods for moving and processing cattle to lessen this effect. Well designed handling facilities will allow animals to be processed quickly while experiencing minimal stress. Do not yell or whistle at cattle. Avoid the use of electric prods, canes, whips, and dogs. If not all animals are to be sold, then sort cattle one to two weeks before weighing and selling. Design facilities to allow cattle to move directly onto trailers without any delays after being weighed.

Compared to cattle standing in a pen without feed and water, transported cattle will shrink 2% more over the same time period. For the first 3 to 4 hours during travel cattle lose 1% of their weight per hour. Over the next 8 to 10 hours they lose 0.25% per hour. Cattle lose an additional 0.61% weight for every 160 km (100 miles) they are shipped. On long hauls feeder cattle shrink 25% more than finished cattle.

Consider an example of a 600 lb (272 kg) calf that is penned, sorted, weighed and transported for 8 hours over 640 km. The estimate of weight at sale time would be approximately 534 lb (242 kg).

Over-loading and under-loading cattle on a vehicle can increase the amount of shrink. Over-loading or crowding causes stress, while under-loading causes excessive movement of the unstable cattle and both situations can lead to injuries. Bedding or sand in the vehicle to improve footing will reduce shrink.

Plan ahead for the marketing of cattle. Shrink can be increased by bad storms, hot weather and long delays during the trip or while waiting for unloading. Shrinkage doubles when groups of cattle are stressed by being mixed during marketing.

Weaning is one of the most stressful times in a calf’s life. Weaning calves the day before the sale and shipping them to the sales barn to stand overnight creates the most shrink in calves. Additional stressors such as sorting, loading, transporting, and commingling with other groups of calves, and the calf’s decreased motivation to eat or drink, will cause additional shrink. Pre-conditioned calves will shrink less and provide a higher sale weight.

Time for cattle to regain the lost weight varies depending on which type of shrink the animals have experienced. Fill shrink recovery time may be a day or two after going back on feed and water. Cattle with tissue shrink combined with on going stresses such as a new feed ration, commingling or sickness could take weeks to recover their sale weight. Cattle that shrink over 9% may experience increased sickness such as bovine respiratory disease and a higher mortality rate.

There is a variation in weight loss and the rate of weight recovery within a group of cattle. Cattle from sales barns generally shrink more than cattle from direct farm sales but recover their sale weights in the same length of time.

Researchers studying how shrink in finished cattle degrades meat quality have developed nutritional supplements to reduce muscle loss and retain quality grades in cattle. These products are fed during the marketing process. These supplements are used in conjunction with low stress handling methods to reduce shrink.

Shrink is a direct measure of the stress placed on cattle. It is important to identify and reduce the stressful factors associated with the marketing of the cattle you are buying or selling. You can reduce shrink by managing the level of stress throughout the marketing of the cattle to maximize their well-being and value.