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. 
