214 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



ket, is the influence which the season may have upon 

 the demand for pork. This applies especially to fresh 

 pork. As a rule the consumption of fresh pork is much 

 greater in the colder than in the warmer months. The 

 price will generally average over 10 per cent greater for 

 the colder or winter months. In addition to this, the 

 consumer in the winter months seeks pork with more fat 

 than in the summer months. This influence of the sea- 

 sonal demands of the markets is of special importance to 

 the small producer, especially the one who markets 

 locally for home consumption. If a producer is supply- 

 ing hogs to one of the central markets, it will generally 

 be found that the demand is fair the year through. 

 Fortunately, those seasons of the year in which pork is 

 least in demand are the same months in which it is more 

 difficult to fit hogs for the market. Later in the year, 

 when the demands for fresh fat pork begin to improve, 

 there is an abundance of forage crops admirably suited 

 for fitting hogs for slaughter. 



Pork producers should study the market. Producers 

 of pork should study the market in order that they may 

 know what to produce that will bring the highest prices. 

 It is very essential that they visit the market occasionally 

 and familiarize themselves with the different market 

 classes and grades. They could then interpret market 

 quotations and know better what their hogs should bring 

 if placed on the market at any particular time. Producers 

 should keep posted on market conditions, either through 

 a good market paper or through the letters of commis- 

 sion firms, who advise their clients as to market condi- 

 tions daily or weekly as the case may be. By continually 

 keeping up with the market one is frequently enabled to 



