364 Pork Production 



by the packer in handling and disposing of the products. 

 Most of the knowledge which can be gained at the large 

 market centers is indispensable to the feeder in more 

 correctly interpreting market conditions, for the most 

 intelligent reading of market reports, and in knowing the 

 weight and type of hog for which the highest prices are 

 commonly paid in the different seasons of the year. 



In shipping hogs to market, every effort should be made 

 to prevent abnormal shrink or loss in transit, and to arrive 

 at the yards at a time and with the hogs in such condition 

 that their most favorable presentation to the buyer will 

 be assured. Unfortunately all the conditions which have 

 much to do in guaranteeing these results are not under 

 the control of the shipper ; the railroads and the weather 

 play very important parts. The shipper can do much, 

 however, to help avoid delays and prevent heavy shrink. 



The freight agent should be interviewed early and the 

 cars ordered in time to insure their delivery when wanted. 

 No very radical change should be made in the rations fed 

 the hogs two or three days before loading. Hogs which 

 have been on grass or forage, however, will shrink less if 

 confined to the dry lot a week before shipping. Those 

 which have been fed largely on slops should have their 

 rations gradually changed to dry feed, mostly corn. 

 Hogs ship much better when empty than when full of 

 feed, especially in hot weather. They should not have 

 their regular ration just before hauling to the shipping 

 point. They should have a rest if possible before being 

 loaded on to the cars. The advisability of feeding at the 

 local shipping point before loading or while in transit 

 should be determined by the distance to market. It is 

 very doubtful whether much feed should be given the day 

 of loading, however, if the hogs are due to arrive at the 



