Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-30
SHIPPING LIVE STOCK.
Cooperative Associations Successful
and Increasing in Numbers.

Farmers livestock shipping associa-
tons have proved so successful that,
although the first was not formed I'M
| til 1908, the Department of Agricul
| ture now has a list of approximately
500 that are shipping stock in co.
operative way. About 200 of these are
in Minnesota, where the movement
started, and the remainder are chiefly
in the Middle West.
The main purpose of these associa.
tions is to enable their members to
ship in carload lots to the central
markets instead of being more or less
at the mercy of local buyers in dis
posing of u few animals from time to
time. The fact that no capital is re-
quired for the organization of sucL an
association, says a new publication Of
the department, Farmers Bulletin
us, which deals with this subject
makes these associations possible in
communities in which more complicat-
ed forms of cooperation would not
succeed. The bulletin, however, points
out that such associations are scarcely
practicable in regions where there is
so much live stock that it is generally
marketed in carload lots under any
circumstances or where tIere is so lit
tie that the association has practically
nothing with which to work.
To organize such an association it
| is necessary only for the farmers of
| the community to meet together,
adopt simple constitution and by
laws, a sample of which is given in
the bulletin already mentioned, to elect
| officers, and, in turn, for them to APP
point a manager. 1t is recommended
although it is not absolutely necessa-
ny, tlat the organization incorporate.
| This can be done at II nominal cost
usually not more than $40. For this
small expenditure of trouble aud
money the association usually enables
the farmer to market his stock when
it is ready instead of compelling him
to wait until the local shipper is ready
to buy it, He obtains for himself the
| benefits of the cheaper carload trans
portaton, and the shipments of the
association realize for the owner tIe
market price of his stock less the
actual cost of marketing. In partieu
, lar, it has been found that when thin
stock, calves, or lambs ars sold in
/ small numbers, the local price is usu
ally very low. 1T is on this class of
stock that the associations have been
! able to save their members the most
money.
In order to avoid misunderstanding
/ is important that all stock be mark
ed at the shipping point. This precau-
tion prevents disputes in regard to
shrinkage and dockage and assists in
making adjustments in case of loss or
damage in transit. There are three
common methods of marking. Numbers
or otner characters may be clipped in
some conspicuous part of the animal,
paint may be employed, or numbered
ear tags used. The last method is the
least frequent because it is somewhat
difficult at the stockyards to get close
enough to the animal to see the num-
her on the tag. If the second method
is adopted, ordinary paint is undesira-
BILE, especially for hogs as it does not
dry readily enough to prevent smear
ing. This difficulty may be overcome
by using paint containing about one
fourth varnish In the case of sleep
however, painting is Objectionable be-
cause the marks will not scour out and
wool manufacturers object to them
and branding fluid therefore is prefer
able. Whatever system of marking is
adopted, the important features are
that it should be uniform for all ship
. nents aud that the marks should be
9 plain and conspicuous. In many eases
/ hogs are not Marked but are graded
0 by the manager at the shipping point
v A record of those subjects to dockagt
is kept in such cases. Marking is ad