PROCEEDINGS CORN BELT MEAT PRODUCERS' ASSN. 555 



I think that anything that will ever be undertaken in the way of better 

 distribution of live stock from country points to the markets will have 

 to involve one of those three methods. Personally, I think that control at 

 the country shipping point is the most promising, although in certain 

 emergencies, perhaps, either limited control at concentration or feeding 

 points operates quite successfully, especially at given times of the year — 

 especially in the lamb-feeding industry might it accomplish some benefits 

 — and it is possible that something might be obtained by a better distribu- 

 tion of the stock after it reaches the market. I think that anything that is 

 done in the way of better market distribution must be done along one of 

 those three lines, but before anything or a great deal in that line of more 

 orderly marketing can be done, it must involve an agreement between al] 

 of the factors from the producers through past the live stock market to 

 bring these about. 



Relations Among Different Interests In the Industry 



There is little possibility of any method for the more orderly marketing 

 of live stock attaining great success that do not have the sincere and co- 

 ordinated support of all the interests in the industry; the probable suc- 

 cess will be the degree to which such support is secured. This co-ordina- 

 tion must be from the producer at least through to the retail distributor, 

 including the railroads, yard companies, selling agencies, government 

 agencies, and packers and slaughterers both as such and as wholesale 

 distributors. 



Each of these factors has a direct interest that the supplies of all kinds 

 of live stock should move to market in as orderly manner as possible for 

 the efficiency with which each can perform its respective function is 

 greater or less as the distribution of the supply is good or bad. There are 

 relationships between these different factors where the points of interest 

 are different and even antagonistic, but as regards the movement of the 

 live stock supply there are no conditions that can justify serious disagree- 

 ments; it is a matter of getting all to work harmoniously within their re- 

 spective spheres to bring about improvements. 



In studying conditions and devising plans for bringing about more or- 

 derly marketing and putting these plans into operation, the relation of all 

 these interests in the plan must be considered. Where there are apparent 

 antagonisms these should be adjusted so that the full support of all will 

 be secured for such action as may be decided upon. 



As among the different interests the producers are the most vitally con- 

 cerned. If better market distribution is to be of any value to them, it 

 must be reflected either in higher returns or a more equitable distribution 

 of these. Without this they have no sufficient interest to justify the ex- 

 penditure of energy and money necessary to change the present methods. 

 Their profits alone depend upon the price paid for live stock; the others 

 make their profits without regard to this price and their interest in better 

 distribution is in the possible savings in operating expenses resulting 

 from a more even volume of business. Consequently this situation of the 

 producers is entitled to especial consideration in whatever joint or asso- 

 ciated activities may be undertaken to bring about more orderly market- 

 ing, it being recognized that whatever makes live stock production more 



