666 ANNUAL REPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



OPEN MARKET. 



The matter of placing on the open market all livestock consigned 

 for sale has been given special attention during the fiscal year, with 

 satisfactory results, by following up actual conditions wherein it 

 appeared that the open-market principle had been violated. 



Attention was given to the question of discrimination which has 

 grown out of the establishment of cooperative selling agencies at 

 some of the principal markets, and a feeling on the part of some of 

 the old-line commission agencies that the best way to fight this form 

 of competition was to permit no dealings with the cooperative 

 agencies. A general understanding is now prevalent among all 

 agencies at the markets that open-market principles must prevail 

 and that no discrimination in this respect will be countenanced. 



HANDLING STOCK. 



Special attention has been given to the loading and unloading of 

 livestock at various markets, especially with reference to the 

 handling of crippled stock, and noticeable improvement has been 

 brought about which has resulted in corresponding benefits to owners 

 and shippers. In this connection an extensive study was made dur- 

 ing the early part of the year by supervisors of stock bruised during 

 the loading and unloading process, which study included strict obser- 

 vation of the various causes resulting in bruises and the extent to 

 which injury could be prevented. As a result of this investigation 

 reports from supervisors clearly indicate that this condition has 

 greatly improved during the year, which means not only a saving to 

 livestock producers, owners, and shippers, but also an important 

 economic saving to the industry as a whole. 



PRICES FOR REACTORS. BRUISED, CRIPPLED, AND DEAD ANIMALS. 



Considerable effort has been given to the matter of prices paid for 

 the classes of stock mentioned above. The fact that these classes of 

 animals necessarily require special attention and handling renders 

 them more subject to different kinds of irregularities than if they 

 could be handled in the regular wa3% especially with reference to 

 prices paid for them at the market. It should be understood, how- 

 ever, that such irregularities were not found to be practiced as a 

 general proposition or to be intentional in all the instances where 

 they prevailed, but were in a large measure the outgrowth of custom 

 or the rush necessarily resulting from the fact that livestock is a 

 perishable commodity and must be marketed as such. It was found, 

 however, that there were many places wherein the system under 

 which these classes of animals were handled through the market, with 

 a little special attention, could be and was improved, greatly to the 

 advantage of the producers and owners affected. Through these 

 methods the prices paid for dead animals at a number of markets 

 'were materially advanced. The Packers and Stockyards Adminis- 

 tration has continued its cooperation with the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry, described in the first annual report, in an effort to bring 

 about conditions whereby prices of reactor cattle will be maintained 

 jnore in keeping with the value of the different animals. 



