Size of Operation 



Some idea of the relative size of the slaughter operations in the state is 

 provided in the following tables which classify the slaughterers by the head 

 of livestock handled in 1952. 



Table 8. Commercial Packers by Number of Livestock Slaughtered in 1952 



Head of Livestock Number of Slaug^hterers 



4,000 and over 4 



2,000-3,999 . 



1,000-1,999 3 



500- 999 2 



0-499 1 



10 



The custom slaughter operations are considerably smaller, as 

 shown in Table 9. 



Table 9. Custom Slaughterers by Number of Livestock Slaughtered in 1952 



Head of Livestock Number of Slaughterers 



500 - 999 3 



250-499 5 



100-249 3 



0- 99 5 



16 



Custom rates 



The current rates for custom slaughter vary from as low as the hides 

 and pelts for cows, calves, and sheep, and $3 for swine, to as high as $6 for 

 cows plus the hide, $2 for calves plus hide, and $2 for sheep plus pelt, and 

 $6 for swine. 



The average rate is about $2 plus hide for cows and calves, $2 for sheep 

 plus pelt, and $5 for hogs. 



Inspection 



Only one of the slaughter operations is under Federal inspection, 7 are 

 under local inspection, the remainder has no official inspection. 



By-products of the slaughter operations are hides, bones and hoofs, 

 tallow, and entrails. There are two tanneries and one rendering company 

 operating in the state. The two tanneries buy hides and are located in Bos- 

 ton, Mass., and Somersworth, N. H. The rendering plant buys ofifal and 

 hides and is located in Manchester, N. H. 



Dairy Herd Replacement 



The maintenance of milking herds necessitates a continuous replace- 

 ment of dairy cows because of age, disease, or accident. Every dairyman 

 must at some time obtain additional cows or heifers. Many of these replace- 

 ments are raised by the dairymen and some are purchased. The most com- 

 mon sources of purchase are other farmers and dealers. No statistical ac- 

 counting is made of the number of these transactions. 



