TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 321 



Year 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 



January.. 223 215 (203) (210) 226 (212) 226 (216) 223 195 (199) (216) 



February. 222 212 204 213 230 217 230 224 224 204 204 231 



March... 228 212 206 218 239 218 240 233 231 214 209 238 



April .... 234 219 212 227 241 227 242 233 233 219 213 242 



May 235 218 216 239 242 232 242 236 233 220 217 238 



June 236 217 219 242 236 235 244 237 231 226 225 235 



July. . . 240 222 225 246 233 239 243 244 238 231 232 243 



August . . 250 224 232 255 239 240 233 248 246 232 233 243 



September 253 219 232 259 224 235 222 242 235 223 231 247 



October... 235 (207) 227 253 212 226 209 229 204 210 212 233 



Novemb'r(209) 213 225 232 (208) 222 (207) 218 (187) 195 209 226 



December 214 211 214 224 213 223 213 226 190 (193) 211 223 



Average.. 231 216 218 235 228 226 228 231 219 210 213 234 



The above table shows that, as a rule, the hogs marketed in 

 August and September are the heaviest of the year, while the 

 smallest average weights usually occur in the months of Novem- 

 ber, December, and January. This is due to the fact that the 

 crop of spring pigs arrives on the market mainly in November, 

 December, and January, being held until the hog's share of the corn 

 crop has been utilized in fattening him for the market. The 

 heaviest weights are attained in August and September because 

 of the absence from the market at that time of any considerable 

 number of young hogs. Relatively few hogs are marketed dur- 

 ing August and September, but the receipts include a larger 

 proportion of aged hogs than in other months, the result of 

 culling down brood sows after pigs are weaned and before winter 

 begins. Hogs are marketed in much larger numbers in winter 

 than in summer, the heaviest marketing usually occurring in 

 December and January. That the largest receipts occur in 

 December and January and the smallest in August and Septem- 

 ber is explained by the close dependence of hogs on corn. Hog 

 growers wait until the corn crop can be put on the backs of 

 their hogs before marketing them. This explains the monthly 

 fluctuation in receipts. 



