408 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



not sue or be sued, and in case of loss from railroad wrecks or other 

 causes, the manager could not enforce claims for the association, but each 

 shipper would be compelled to present his claims for his losses. 



After an organization has formed, their greatest problem is that of 

 procuring an efficient manager, as the success of the company largely 

 rests with him. He must be capable and honest; he should have a prac- 

 tical knowledge of live stock and the business principles involved in weigh- 

 ing, loading, shipping and receiving the returns from the stock marketed. 

 A man should be selected who has the confidence of the farmers com- 

 posing the company. Each community has some man suited for this posi- 

 cion. As a rule, it has proven best to procure some farmer or local man 

 who will take the time to handle the stock shipped in the best possible 

 manner. A local live stock buyer is well acquainted with marketing 

 methods, but too often he has lacked the spirit of co-operation and has 

 worked for his own interests rather than those of tke farmers whom he is 

 serving. This oftentimes leads to misunderstanding and ultimately re- 

 sults in the failure of the company. 



A salary should be paid that is sufficiently large to attract an effi- 

 cient manager. The amount necessary to procure such a man varies with 

 the company. Some companies pay their manager a straight commission 

 per car, varying from $6 to $10. Others pay on the hundred pounds basis, 

 varying from 4 to 6 cents. Still others pay a flat daily wage, varying from 

 $4 to $6. The method of payment is not as vital as the getting of the 

 right man for the position. 



In order that each shippers' stock may be identified at the central 

 market, some method of marking should be used. Several methods have 

 been devised by commission firms and local associations. (1) The most 

 common is that of clipping with scissors. A pair of eight-inch scissors 

 with straight blades has proved, after considerable trial, to be the most 

 practical. The common practice of clipping is to start with one clip on 

 top of the neck for the first owner, two clips on top of the neck for the 

 second owner, and so on until the total number to be placed in the car 

 have been marked. It is customary to leave unmarked the owner's stock 

 having the greatest number of head in the shipment. (2) When the hair 

 is short, at certain seasons of the year, a good grade of buggy paint with 

 an equal amount of varnish is often used. Paint should be used only 

 when the hair is too short to be clipped. (3) Perhaps the most unsatis- 

 factory method of marking stock is the use of metal tags. The main diffi- 

 culty (especially with hogs and calves) is that of getting close enough to 

 stock in the yards to see the numbers or marks. During the past few 

 years several methods of clipping cattle have been devised. Some asso- 

 ciations mark with Roman numerals on the right or left hip. The method 

 that seems to be gaining most favor is that of starting at the top of the 

 neck and continuing down either side of the backbone. In marking sheep, 

 fhe most common custom has been the use of paint, marks being placed on 

 the head, shoulders, back or hips. As but few owners will be found in a 

 carload, a sufficient number of combinations can be made up to meet the 

 needs of the manager. Hogs should be clipped whenever the hair is long 

 enough to show plainly each owner's stock. During seasons when the hair 

 is short, paint should be used. Ear-tags are not satisfactory in marking 



