38 N. H. Agri. Experiment Station [Bui. 300 



It undoubtedly pays to grade carefully enough to prevent eggs being 

 classed as Producer's Grade (Unclassified) during the months of June 

 to November when the average premiums are large ($1.44 per case — 

 two-3-ear average), but it may not always pay in the period December 

 to May when the premiums are much smaller (51 cents per case — 

 two-year average) . The actual premium is less than it appears since 

 the smaller size eggs included in Producer's Large Grade would bring 

 a considerably lower price if sold in their proper grade. The larger 

 eggs included would, of coiu'se, have brought more if they had been sold 

 in their proper classification. 



The premium for eggs graded as to size over Producer's Grade is def- 

 inite evidence that in wholesale markets the size of individual eggs is 

 an important factor. 



Probably some of the difficulty on size of individual eggs is experi- 

 enced by small producers who have such a small volume that grading 

 as to size is impractical. Such eggs should, of course, be sold as un- 

 classified. Retail stores obtain a good many of their eggs from such 

 small producers. 



It would simplify grading procedure to eliminate the tolerance for in- 

 dividual eggs in the smaller sizes and to retain the weight per dozen 

 requirement. Those who purchase eggs under 24 ounces per dozen are 

 especially interested in price, and individual size is of less importance 

 to them than pounds of eggs per dollar expended. Consumer grades 

 should always be as simple as possible and need not cover as much 

 ground as wholesale grades. 



OTHER VARIATIONS IN PRICES ON AUCTION SALES 



Prices Received by Individual Producers 



When average prices received for Special and Extra Grade Large 

 Brown eggs were weighted by the number of sales made, fewer pro- 

 ducers (47 per cent) received prices above average than below average 

 (53 per cent). During the 1934-1935 year 83 per cent of the producers 

 received within 1 cent of the average price for all producers on com- 

 parative sale dates. 



(See Fig. 15 for distribution of producers receiving prices above and 

 below average) . 



It appears that the 25 per cent who received prices of one-half cent 

 or more below the average should attempt to determine the reasons for 

 these lower prices. Light weight cases and a high percentage of extras 

 are the most frequent causes of lower prices but there are other factors 

 which enter into the picture such as regularity and period of sale, uni- 

 formity of size and color, and interior quality. 



Variations in Prices for Same Grade and Weight 



A comparison was made of the average prices received from the auc- 

 tion by individual producers with the average for eggs of the same 

 grade and weight for all producers in October. 1935. It was found that 

 about 35 per cent received prices above average, and 57 per cent ob- 

 tained prices below average. The smaller gronp sold more cases on 

 more sales. 



