1917] ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 165 



R., 35, p. 666) only those phases of the marketing of live stock and meats which 

 bear most directly upon the economic aspects of the meat situation are con- 

 sidered. The report sets forth the results of studies recently conducted by 

 the Office of Markets and Rural Organization, supplemented by data from other 

 sources. 



The objects in view in the investigations were to define and differentiate the 

 principal methods by which live stock is marketed in the United States; to 

 show the present relative importance of the several methods in the country at 

 large and in the different States and agricultural regions ; to analyze the more 

 prominent items of cost involved in the various stages of the marketing of 

 live stock and distribution of meats, with special reference to the reduction of 

 cost through improvements in marketing methods and facilities; and to com- 

 pare the margins or relative returns realized by each of the important classes 

 of interests that participate in the movement of meat products from producers 

 to consumers. The kinds of meat animals considered in the report are cattle, 

 hogs, and sheep. 



" Three general methods of marketing are open to producers of meat animals : 

 First, through the large public stockyards and packing centers; second ,by 

 means of local butchers and packers ; and third, in the form of farm-prepared 

 meats. . . . Estimates show that about one-half of the beef cattle, two-thirds 

 of the hogs, and four-fifths of the sheep and lambs marketed pass through the 

 large central markets ; one-third of the beef cattle, one-twelfth of the hogs, and 

 one-eighth of the sheep and lambs are sold for local slaughter; one-tenth of 

 the beef cattle, one-third of the hogs, and one-twentieth of the sheep and lambs 

 are slaughtered on farms and ranges. . . . 



" In the United States relatively more sheep are shipped in carload lots by 

 owners than any other class of live stock ; cattle follow second, hogs third, and 

 calves fourth. More hogs are marketed by local dealer-shippers than other 

 classes of live stock, and calves, cattle, and sheep follow in the order 

 named. . . . 



" Cooperative live-stock shipping associations bring greater net returns to the 

 farmer because of the reduction of marketing expenses and the realization of 

 actual market prices. These associations also have educational features which 

 are of importance to any community having live stock to market in small 

 lots. , . . 



" Direct marketing will remain an important factor in those parts of the 

 country remote from centralized markets. . . . 



"Average freight rates on live stock for the years 1911-1913 were 10 cts. per 

 hundredweight for eastern or official territory, 11.9 cts. for southern territory, 

 and 14.9 cts. for western territory. Replies to inquiries show that train 

 service is satisfactory in a majority of cases. The total claims for live stock 

 loss and damage in transit on 27 railroads amounted to $1,245,477.81 during the 

 fiscal year 1913-14. . . . 



*' The largest single factor in the marketing of meat animals in the United 

 States is the system of centralized live-stock markets. These markets not only 

 are a medium through which live stock is sold for slaughter, but a large pro- 

 portion of stocker and feeder cattle also passes through them. The terminal 

 charge at most centralized markets is $2 per car. Yardage is 25 cts. a head on 

 cattle, 10 cts. on calves, 8 cts. on hogs, and 5 cts. on sheep at a majority of the 

 markets. Commission charges are 60 cts. per head on cattle, 25 cts. on calves, 

 20 cts. on hogs, and 10 cts. on sheep at most markets. 



" Wholesale slaughtering and meat packing constitute the chief outlet for 

 market stock suitable for slaughter. The most extensive development of meat 



