TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 329 

 Roasting Pigs. 



These are from three to six weeks old and weigh from 15 

 to 30 pounds. They come to market in small numbers and 

 only during holiday seasons. They are taken direct from their 

 dams, dressed with head and feet on, and served like spring 

 chickens or turkeys. The price varies greatly. 



Governments. 



Before hogs are allowed to pass over the scales to be weighed 

 out to the packer, the speculator, the shipper, or any one else 

 who may choose to buy them, they must first pass the scrutiny 

 of a government inspector. All hogs not considered sound in 

 every respect are tagged by this inspector and retained for fur- 

 ther examination. Badly pregnant sows, hogs with bunches, 

 boils, etc., also hogs with cuts on the hams and shoulders are 

 retained. These are called "Governments." They are usually 

 bought up by a local dealer and taken to one of the smaller 

 packing houses where they are slaughtered under the supervision 

 of an inspector. If found to be affected so as to make the flesh 

 unfit for human food, they are condemned and tanked. The 

 tank is a large steam-tight receptacle, like a steam boiler, in 

 which the carcass is converted into grease and fertilizer. 



Cripples. 



These are hogs that are not able to keep their feet. Weak- 

 ness of pasterns, feet, and legs is a common fault in lard hogs, 

 especially in those heavily fattened on corn not properly supple- 

 mented with protein feeds. Lack of exercise is another cause. 

 Overcrowding of cars and loading and unloading too hurriedly 

 result in a good many crippled hogs. On the market there are 

 far more cripples among hogs than among any other class of 

 stock. Crippled hogs sell to speculators for fully a dollar less 

 per cwt. than they would have otherwise brought. 



Dead Hogs. 



These are hogs that died in transit due to overheat, rough 

 handling, over-feeding in hot weather before shipping, and 

 other causes. They are used in the manufacture of grease, 

 soap, and fertilizer. If they weigh 100 pounds or over, they 

 ,bring the fertilizer price, which is now about $3.00 per cwt. If they 



