TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 457 



rather by competition of other kinds of stock, largely sheep, than by 

 conditions prevailing in the general farming business. 



Besides the difference in the controlling factors in production among 

 these various classes of cattle, there are differences in the manner of 

 their marketing and the causes influencing it. The first two kinds are 

 usually marketed in small lots, considerably less than car lots, and are 

 sold either to local butchers or shippers or are shipped through co-oper- 

 ative shipping associations. The season of their marketing is determined 

 by conditions outside of market demand, but largely inherent in the char- 

 acter of the industry of which their production is a part. Dairy cattle 

 freshen largely in the spring, and hence the movement of veal calves 

 comes then. Herds are apt to be culled out in the fall and the movement 

 of these cattle is apt to be heaviest then. 



The sale of butcher stock is determined largely by the finance and 

 economy of each individual farmer, and by some more extended factors 

 such as prevalence of drouth, scarcity or plentifulness of rough feeds, 

 etc., and the activity is hardly ever carried on under a fairly set program 

 of marketing. With either class there is little chance to control the total 

 yearly or seasonable movement, and only a very little to perfect a better 

 d:stribution. As these are for the most part the cheapest kinds of cattle 

 that go to market, and as all marketing charges are based on weight or 

 unit rates, increases in these charges weigh exceptionally hard upon these 

 kinds. About the most that can be hoped for in the line of improved mar- 

 keting, is in the direction of the reduction of marketing costs and in the 

 improvement in the methods by which such stock goes from the pro- 

 ducer to the user. All sayings of this kind that can be effected are addi- 

 tional gains and are a larger per cent of the value than with any other 

 kind of stock. Such improvements in marketing practice have been, and 

 will probably continue to be, in the extension of co-operative shipping 

 associations and in improving their methods and in seeking decreased 

 costs at the markets by reducing or eliminating excessive or unnecessary 

 charges. 



The third class, fed-cattle, are marketed in carlots and are mostly" 

 shipped direct by the feeders, themselves. They are usually prepared 

 under a more or less fixed plan with a rather definitely determined market 

 date in mind. This date is fixed by the individual feeder at present, 

 largely upon his judgment as to future market conditions, infiuenced by 

 past experience, and to some extent by his supplies of feeding stuffs. The 

 attempt is made to best conform the activity to the probable market de- 

 mand, and this market demand is a controlling factor both in influencing 

 production and in determining marketing within the comparatively short 

 period when there is time for decision. That is, changing price is what 

 decides the daily and weekly market movement, and price prospects de- 

 cide present and future production. With this class, market economy 

 is not the great problem, although any improvements along this line 

 would not be unwelcome, but rather it is the organization of the feeding 

 industry to secure a more uniform production, and one better calculated 

 to meet consumptive demands, and a better temporary distribution of the 

 supplies when produced. As both the production and market movement 



