220 SOUTHERN PORK PRODUCTION 



shippers generally sign a release allowing of a longer 

 limit of time so that the hogs reach the market before 

 it is necessary to feed again. However, in case it is nec- 

 essary to feed in transit corn alone should not be fed, 

 especially in summer, on account of its heating qualities 

 and the possibilities of indigestion due to the riding. A 

 good dry mash of bran, crushed oats and corn is cooling 

 and refreshing and is apt to get the hogs through in the 

 best condition. During the hot weather hogs should 

 leave the shipping point, where possible, during the late 

 afternoon, and in most cases they will arrive at the mar- 

 ket in the night, or early the next morning. 



Average carloads. — The number of hogs that can be 

 shipped in a single car is dependent on several factors, 

 among which are the size of the car, the size of the hogs, 

 distance to be shipped, the kind of hogs, the kind of car, 

 whether double or single deck, and the weather condi- 

 tions. Extensive reports on railroad shipments and 

 stockyard receipts show that in single-deck cars the 

 number generally runs about 90 to 100 head for light 

 hogs and from 150 to 175 for light hogs in double-decked 

 cars. It is always better to have a car loaded too light 

 than too heavy. 



Marketing. — The two principal ways of marketing 

 hogs are selling to local buyers and shipping direct to a 

 central market. There are advantages to both methods 

 and the most advisable one will depend on circumstances. 

 Frequently one can do better selling to local buyers even 

 in quantity. That will all depend, however, on the con- 

 dition of the market and the kinds and quantity of hogs 

 one is marketing. 



