72 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



The census of 1909 estimated that 13,611,422 cattle and 

 6,515,976 calves were slaughtered in the United States in that 

 year. It is estimated that about three-fifths of the beef cattle 

 marketed in the United States pass through the large central 

 markets, that about one-third are sold for local slaughter, and 

 that about one-tenth are slaughtered on farms and ranges. 

 Considering that the animals which are shipped to the central- 

 ized markets generally are of heavier weights and of higher 

 grades than stock slaughtered locally, it is apparent that prob- 

 ably two-thirds or more of the beef consumed is the product of 

 animals which pass through the large central markets. About 

 two-fifths of the calves are slaughtered by the large packers, 

 a little less than half are slaughtered locally, and about one- 

 sixth are slaughtered on farms and ranges. 



The great markets of the Middle West are points of focus 

 of never-ending processions of beef animals moving from western 

 ranges and cornbelt feed-lots. Upon reaching market, the cattle 

 are either slaughtered at the great packing houses located at 

 the stock yards, or are shipped out of market on the hoof. Both 

 dressed carcasses and live animals are shipped to various cities 

 and towns to fill the orders of retail butchers. For example, 

 the Chicago packing houses slaughtered 2,800,051 cattle in 1918, 

 and the remaining 989,871 head were shipped out alive. Of 

 the latter number, 586,557 were shipped to various parts of 

 the country for slaughter, and 403,314 were taken out for feeding. 



An investigation by the U. S. Office of Markets and Rural 

 Organization in 1915, indicated that 42 per cent, of cattle are 

 marketed in the fall, 19 per cent, in the winter, 21 per cent, in 

 the spring, and 18 per cent, in the summer. Both the buying 

 of stockers and feeders and the selling of fat stock are confined 

 to a few months of the year. Movements of live stock are 

 largely controlled by such factors as the limits of the grazing 

 season, the maturity of crops for feeding, distribution of labor, 

 etc., and it is not advisable that monthly shipments of live stock 

 to market be absolutely equalized, yet it is at the same time true 

 that a more even distribution is, within limits, desirable to 

 both producer and consumer. 



Zone system of marketing at Chicago. At Chicago, in 

 1915, 42 per cent, of cattle were received on Mondays, 10 per 

 cent, on Tuesdays, 33 per cent, on Wednesdays, 10 per cent, on 

 Thursdays, 4 per cent, on Fridays, and less than 1 per cent, on 

 Saturdays. A similar, though less marked, condition prevailed 



