Livestock shrink calculator
Estimate what a haul takes off your cattle — before they load.
Calculate shrink
About this calculator
Shrink is the weight cattle lose between the scale at home and the scale at the destination — part gut fill that comes back in a day or two, part tissue that takes weeks. This calculator estimates the range for a specific load from the class of cattle, how long they've been off feed before loading, the distance and hours in transit, and the weather.
It handles feeders and stockers, weaned calves, fed steers, cull cows, bulls (with their own reactive/commingled curves), and cow/calf pairs. The percentage range is free to everyone; sign in to see the pounds lost per head, the dollar impact at your price, and the fill-versus-tissue split.