32 INFORMATION RELATING TO CO-OPERATION AND ASSOCIATION 



On receiving this statement the manager in his turn draws up a report set- 

 ting forth the weight of the animals before their journej^ and at the central 

 market, the price obtained at the central market for all the stock and for 

 that of individual owners, the individual's share of expenses on the journey 

 and at the market., the commission charged b\' the association and the share 

 of this falling on individuals. He then prepares a statement and draws a 

 cheque for each individual owner. 



The charge for feeding the animals on their journey is based on the num- 

 ber loaded in a truck and the amount of food given them. For hogs the 

 usual charge is from five to eight cents a head. The commission charged by 

 the association to cover expenses and form a small reserve fund is three per 

 cent, on the price of cattle and hogs and 15 cents a head on calves. A 

 farmer not a member of the association may market his stock by its means 

 if he pay a commission of 5 per cent, on the price of cattle and hogs and 

 25 cents a head on calves. 



The sums thus received pay the manager's salary a:id the wages of 

 the yard man and his helpers and cover any losses incurred by the death or 

 depreciation of animals during their journe^^ Thus it may be said that by 

 exacting from the owners a small premium the association insures the 

 live stock against the risks of transport. 



In 1915 the association sent out 56 truckloads of stock, as against 

 43 in the previous 3^ear ; and 155 farmers availed themselves of its services. 

 Precise figures cannot be given as to the amount of extra profit which the 

 farmers derive from such co-operative marketing but it may be estimated 

 approximately at from 5 to 25 per cent. This extra profit might however 

 become a loss if the manager did not watch the market very closely. 



