354 



Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



Charges for commission, yardage, and feed. — At Chicago the 

 charge for the yardage of hogs is 11 cents per head. Commission 

 charges for selHng hogs are as follows: Hogs in car lots, 30 cents per 

 head; single-deck cars, minimum $13, maximum $16; double-deck cars, 

 minimum $20, maximum $27; less than 25 hogs in one car, 50 cents 

 per head. Public inspection of hogs costs 25 cents per car, no fee 

 being charged on cars containing less than 25 head. Corn costs $1.25 

 per bushel. 



Shrinkage of hogs in transit. — Hogs usually shrink from 2.5 to 

 4 per cent in shipment to market. ^ These percentages express the 

 difference between home weights and selling weights. The latter in- 

 clude the "fill." Hogs shrink less than cattle or sheep in shipment. 



Olauqht 



qhier 



Johipped jor olQUtjkter 



foOu 700 800 900 



Fig. 132. — Average monthly receipts and shipments of hogs at Chicago in 

 thousands for ten years, 1909-1913 and 1917-1921. The years 1914-1916 were 

 omitted because of embargoes on shipments during much of that period. The total 

 length of each bar represents average monthly receipts. The divisions of the bar 

 represent the average number of Chicago hogs sold monthly for local slaughter and 

 for shipment to other points for slaughter. The average number shipped monthly 

 for feeding " " " "-' ' ' ■'- •"-'- -'---•^ 



too small to be shown in this chart. 



The fill. — Upon arrival in the pens at the market, hogs are given 

 shelled corn and water. This constitutes the "fill." It has a quieting 

 effect, improves the appearance of the animals, and increases the 

 weight. A test at the Kansas City market is reported ^ in which 44 



iWent.worth and Gentry: Progressive Hog Raising, 1922, p. 79. 

 ^Arthur C. Davenport: The American Live Stock Market — How It Func- 

 tions, p. 47. 



