CHAPTER XXIII. 

 MARKETING SW^INE. 



Hogs may be sold to the local butcher, to local packers, 

 or they may be sold on the large central markets. In the 

 latter case they usually go through the hands of country 

 shippers who make a business of buying hogs in the 

 country and shipping them to the market centers where 

 they are sold. They may also be shipped direct by the 

 producer. 



DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF HOGS. 



As previously noted, the market demands more heavy 

 hogs in winter and more light hogs in summer. The sup- 

 ply of hogs on the market is not always in accordance 

 with the demand, and therefore they do not sell for as 

 much money as they should. This is true because hogs 

 that are selling not because they are in demand, but sim- 

 ply because they are offered for sale, will sell at a dis- 

 count as compared with hogs that are put on the market 

 in a condition when such hogs are in greatest demand. 

 Under present conditions, the bulk of the hogs going to 

 market are produced from pigs farrowed in the spring of 

 the year. Thus by being farrowed early and being well 

 fed during the summer, they may go to market during 

 the close of the light hog season and may be in harmony 

 as to weight with what the market demands. They also 

 may sell as heavy hogs during the winter. However, if 

 they are farrowed a little later and not fed quite so well, 

 and go to market during the winter season, they will go 



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