MARKETS AND SWINE PRODUCTS 



255 



market. Though the general trend of the market is towards 

 lighter weights, it not infrequently happens that prime heavy 

 hogs command a premium over other sorts, especially when the 

 lard market is strong. " Clear backs " and " clear bellies," 

 which are entirely composed of fat, come from this class of 

 hogs, though it is difficult to establish any definite relation 

 between the live hog and its product, owing to the fact that the 



FIG. 55. "Prime medium butchers," weight 220 to 280 pounds, very smooth and 

 highly finished. "Light butchers "are of the same general type but lighter, 180 to 220 

 pounds. Butcher hogs are commonly used for the fresh meat trade. Prime butcher hogs 

 represent the highest quality of fat hog. (Photo, from Illinois Experiment Station.) 



packer must shape his course largely to suit market demands, 

 and these vary from time to time. 



"Butcher" hogs (Figs. 55 and 56) may vary in weight 

 from 180 to 350 pounds. This class may be subdivided as 

 follows : Heavy butchers, 280 to 350 pounds ; medium butchers, 

 220 to 280 pounds; light butchers, 180 to 220 pounds. The 

 heavy butchers are also graded into " prime " and " good/' and 

 the medium and light butchers each into " prime," " good," 

 and " common." The Chicago market report referred to has 

 lumped all the butcher hogs together. Butcher hogs are prin- 



