Looking at things from a buyers point of view wouldn't you want them with an empty rumen and cleaned out bowls? After all, that ain't edible anyways.
My folks ran a little 6000 hd feedlot in Nebraska years ago, later I worked for an outfit in northern MN and each year took in 1000 to1200 grass calves from 90+ miles away and average shrink was 2 to 2.5%. In mid sept those same yearlings went to Nebraska with about 6% shrink, if it hit 8% they were not happy and told us to check our scales. And that was after a nine hour bus ride.bird dog":193hfgf2 said:"If he lost more than three percent somethings wrong."
Skeeter I don't know if you own a set of scales but I recently bought a set and it is a real eye opener how much their weight will vary from day to day and how much they do indeed shrink. I was expecting 3-5% and was surprised to see so many of them at a much higher rate. It turns out it is not that unusual.
It is also a real eye opener how quick they will quit gaining and actually start loosing when your grass starts going south in the fall.
I would suggest you weigh a few of your own before they leave the farm and then see what you get paid for before making a statement like you made or give us some a story where yours are only losing 3%. I would like to make a effort for my own benefit to copy your technique.