TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 521 



yields about thirty pounds of fat. Here is $12 less for fat product, a dif- 

 ference in value on foot of $1.20. 



I have been told by one whom I thought knew that the packers' sell- 

 ing costs, including buying, driving, killing, dressing, chilling and load- 

 ing, have increased, as for instance at Omaha, practically ten times as 

 compared to a few years ago, and the cost, instead of being 55 cents a 

 head, is now around $5.50 — this in a 1000-pourid steer. Five dollars dif- 

 ference makes 50 cents per hundredweight difference in the live weight 

 value. The question arises: Will packing house labor come down, and 

 when? This will take time, hence the producer has no immediate relief 

 in sight on this score, altho he should feel some consolation in Judge 

 Alschuler's recent decision in Chicago to the effect that for the present 

 the wages of packing house employes would remain stationary. 



Verily, the beef producer needs some sort of co-operative organization 

 that can keep him posted on the various factors that affect the cattle 

 market, and the cattle futures, as judged from the beef, fat, hide and 

 other demands. Now we roam in the dark, and bump each other's noses. 

 But are cattle feeders ready to join together and pay the price necessary 

 to create a cattle feeders' co-operative association? This brings us to the 

 questions and problems of co-operation. 



Some of the problems that need to be seriously considered by all of 

 us in the cattle feeding business are: 



1. The Co-operative Shipping Association. — This movement is mak- 

 ing splendid progress, and the outlook is very promising. In our state 

 here the shipping association offices with the state Farm Bureau, and 

 they work in close harmony. This movement is making real progress 

 in a number of states, and should be encouraged. It is an encouraging 

 proposition for the small feeder and producer, and deserves the kindly 

 treatment of the car-lot shipper. It is gratifying to see the live stock 

 producer control and handle absolutely his own products from farm to 

 market commission house. In this movement, as in others of a co-opera- 

 tive nature, some mistakes are made, but the members realizing that it 

 is their own organization, and hence their own mistakes, show a tolerant 

 and practical attitude by working for the elimination of errors, sticking 

 tight, and thus fostering the upbuilding of the co-operative spirit. This 

 is the time for live stock producers generally to keep their hearts set 

 on the big principle of co-operation, and to pass up petty and small griev- 

 ances as mere incidentals. In human life, in pig life, in all life, it's the 

 babies that have the hard time pulling thru, hence our baby organizat'ons 

 now need all the helpful influences available everywhere. 



2. The "Eat-More-Meat" Campaign. — This was inaugurated by the 

 National Swine Growers' Association in Chicago, at International time. 

 A resolution was passed to the effect that this entire matter receive the 

 thoughtful consideration of all interests concerned, including producers, 

 producers' organizations, breed associations, state and national Farm 

 Bureaus, live stock commission houses, packers, retail dealers and others, 

 and that a meeting of all interests be called later. Here is a proposition 

 that needs to be carefully gone into by all those who have power to speak 



