IMPORTANCE^ DISTRIBUTION, MARKETS, VALUES 9 



an extent tliat now the old-time mammoth is no longer 

 reared or wanted, and his possession, even though he 

 were champion, would cause the producer to be pitied 

 ratlier than envied. The tendency is toward breeds and 

 combinations of breeds that will gi\-e, with generous 

 k'cep. a vigorous animal of 175 to 400 pounds, of flesh 

 ratlier than lard, witli 15 months as the maximum time 

 for making the heaviest weight. 



LIVE AVEIGHTS AND LARD AY^ERAGES 



The average live weight of hogs packed in the West 

 during the winter seasons (ending March i) and their 

 average yield of lard, in pounds, for 30 years from 

 1879 to 1908. has shown a fairly steady decline. Ac- 

 cording to figures compiled by the Cincinnati Price Cur- 

 rent the heaviest average weight was 271 pounds in 1879 

 and the lightest yearly weight was 206 pounds in 1902. 

 For the last five years the average weights have ranged 

 around 223 pounds, as shown in detail in the Appendix. 



The average weight of hogs and yield of lard from 

 hogs packed in the West during the summer seasons 

 (ending November i) for 16 years from 1892 to 1907 

 has shown but a slight change from 241 pounds in 1896 

 to 230 pounds in 1907. The exact weights for each year 

 are given in detail in the .\ppendix. 



IT^ARLY COST OF HOGS 



The cost per too pounds of hogs, alive, packed in the 

 West in summer and winter seasons has fluctuated greatly 



