398 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE SHIPMENT OF LIVE STOCK TO CENTRALIZED MARKETS. 



A preliminary study of various phases of the shipment of live 

 stock to centralized markets has been conducted by means of sched- , 

 ules sent to correspondents of the Bureau of Crop Estimates. The 

 information obtained has been embodied in part in Report 113. Data 

 from various other sources have been collected and arrangements have 

 been made for cooperation with the Animal Husbandry Division and 

 the Office of Farm Management of this department for the collection 

 of data on actual shipments of cattle and hogs, including cost of 

 driving and hauling to shipping points, methods and costs of bed- 

 ding and loading cars, loss, damage, and shrinkage in transit. 



STUDY OF MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS. 



In continuation of previous investigations, 5 municipally owned 

 abattoirs and 8 cities which have centralized slaughtering plants pri- 

 vately owned, with municipal inspection and control, have been vis- 

 ited for the purpose of studying the possibilities and limitations of 

 public abattoirs in their relation to local live-stock marketing con- 

 ditions. 



STUDY OF COOPERATIVE MEAT-PACKING COMPANIES. 



A press bulletion on the subject of cooperative meat-packing com- 

 panies was issued in July, 1915, based on field investigations con- 

 ducted during the latter part of the previous fiscal year. This bul- 

 letin placed special emphasis on the precautions which are essential 

 to the success of an undertaking of this kind and resulted in the 

 modification of plans and the abandonment of unwarranted organiza- 

 tions in a number of communities where cooperative packing move- 

 ments were contemplated. Numerous inquiries for information on 

 this subject have indicated a marked interest in the subject and the 

 investigations have been continued with a view to issuing a more 

 complete publication. Six communities in which plants are being 

 promoted have been visited and surveys made of local conditions 

 pertaining to the feasibility of the enterprises. The representative 

 of this office stationed in Louisiana rendered specific assistance in this 

 matter to one community, and cooperation has been arranged with the 

 director of extension in South Carolina in order to determine the 

 possibilities of cooperative packing enterprises at certain cities in 

 that State. 



SURVEY OF WHOLESALE SLAUGHTERING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEATS. 



A survey of the wholesale slaughtering and meat-packing industry 

 has been begun with special reference to the location, organization, 

 sources of supply and demand, methods of operation, and distribu- 

 tion. A systematic study of wholesale slaughtering and meat-packing 

 establishments in the North Atlantic States has been completed, and 

 the work is being extended to include the great meat-packing centers 

 of the Middle West. 



COMMERCIAL MOVEMENTS OF LIVE STOCK AND MEATS. 



A study of the location of the principal feeding^ districts and graz- 

 ing sections has been begun as a basis for future investigations rela- 

 tive to the shipments of live stock to and from these areas. The in- 



