Table 11. Distribution Areas: Percentage of Sales to Buyers 

 Within Specified Distances from Slaughtering Plants 



* Less than 1%. 

 ** Based on data for small, medium, and large plants. 

 t Data not collected on all plants in this group. Estimated from a sub-sample. 

 J Over 50 miles. 



Seasonality and Storage 



Seasonal variations in individual plant operations may occur either from 

 the influence of changes in supplies or the demands of the market outlets 

 serviced. 



Slaughter of fowl exhibits greater seasonal variation than slaughter of 

 broilers. Year-round commercial meat chicken production and contract 

 growing minimize seasonal fluctuations in broiler supplies. Of 17 large 

 and medium-sized plants, only two indicated broiler slaughter varied sea- 

 sonally. Neither was engaged in contract growing. Only 4 of 8 small plants 

 indicated broiler slaughter as steady, but many small plants are more in- 

 fluenced by local retail trade demands than by overall supplies. 



Only 15 of 44 plants stored poultry for their own account. Four of these 

 indicated quantities were negligible and storage was not a regular prac- 

 tice. Birds were not likely to be held beyond six months. Fowl was the most 

 likely market class to be stored. 



Four of the plants that stored poultry produced one-pound Rock-Cornish 

 birds and marketed their products nationally. A large proportion of these 

 birds is sold frozen and stored in warehouses throughout the country for 

 quick delivery. It was indicated, however, that if possible, inventories were 

 turned over each month. 



28 



