Pure-bred Swine 431 



Pure-bred swine may be marketed by private agreement 

 between buyer and seller, by mail, or by public auction. 

 Selling by mail is characteristic of the hog business, and 

 while' some breeders have been able to build up a consider- 

 able mail order trade there is room for much dissatisfaction 

 in this method of marketing. Unscrupulous breeders 

 sometimes take advantage of a customer to the detriment 

 of the entire trade, while on the other hand amateur 

 buyers commonly expect too much and are disappointed 

 even with a really good pig worth more money than they 

 paid. Pure-bred herds are now so well distributed 

 throughout the West that there seems little reason to 

 encourage marketing by mail. After a reputation for 

 fair dealing has once been established, auctions are perhaps 

 the best means of selling. Auctions enable the breeder 

 to sell all his stock at one time and when they are in the 

 best condition. He is thus enabled to adjust better 

 both the management of his herd and his financial affairs. 

 The objection most frequently offered is the uncertainty 

 as to the price which will be received. A well advertised 

 sale of good stock, however, is fairly sure to bring the 

 market price. By private sale the breeder fixes his own 

 prices, and this appeals very much to the average buyer. 

 He cannot, however, avoid running up a big feed bill on 

 stock which he does not sell when ready nor can he avoid 

 selling some pigs for pork in case he overestimates the 

 demand for breeding stock. 



Good advertising is especially necessary in the pure- 

 bred hog business. Competition is very keen, and buyers 

 seldom have to look for what they want as they commonly 

 do with sheep and cattle. Persistent newspaper adver- 

 tising and successful showing are therefore necessary. 



