The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-05-16
SHIPPING LIVE STOCK.
Cooperative Associations Successful
and Increasing in Numbers


and Increasing in Numbers.
Farmers livestock shipping associa-
tlons have proved so successful that
although the first was not formed un
TIL I9OS, the Department of Agrirul-
ture now has list Of approximately
900 that are shipping stock in a co
operative way. About 200 of these are
in Minnesota where the movemen
started, and the remainder are chief
IN the Middle West.
The main purpose of these associa
tions is to enable their members to
ship in carload lots to the centra
markets instead Of being more or les
at the mercy Of local BUYERS in dis.
posing of few animals from time to
time. The fact that no capital is re
CURED for the organization of sucI 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. point
out that such associations are scarcely
practicable in regions where there is
so much live stock that il is generally
marketed in carload lots under an,
circumstances or whore tIcrc is so lit
tie that the association has PRACTICAL,
nothing with which to work.
To organize such an association il
is necessary only for the farmers Of
the community to meet together
adopt simple constitution and bv-
laws, sample of which is given j.
the bulletin already mentioned to elect
officers, and, in turn, for them to an
point manager. 1t is recommended
although 1t Is not absolutely neccssa-
ny, tlat the organization incorporate
This can be done at nominal cost
usually not more than $40. For this
small expenditure of trouble aud
money the association usually enable.
the farmer to market his stool, -vhe..
If is ready instead of compelling him
to wait until the local shipper is read.
10 buy it. He obtains for himself nh.
benefits of the cheaper carload tran
portation, and the shipments of thc
association realize for the owner tac
market price of his stock less the
actual cost of marketing In particu
lar, 1t has been found that when thir
stock, calves, or lambs ars sold in
small numbers, the local price is usu-
any very low. 1t is on this class Of
't''AN t'tNN luC ttH0pCldl lOuS nave Deeu
able to save their members the most
money.
In order to avoid misunderstanding
It is important that all stock he mark
ed at the shipping point. This precau-
ton prevents disputes in regard TO
shriakage and dockage and assists in
making adjustments in case of loss or
damage IN transit. There are three
common methods of marking Numbers
or otaer characters may be clipped in
some conspicuous part of the animal.
paint may be employed, or numbered
car tags used. The last method is the
least frequent because it is somewhat
dltilcult at the stockyards to get close
enough to the animal to see the num-
Der on the tag. If the second method
IS adopted, ordinary paint is undesira-
Die, especially for hogs as it does not
dry readlly enough to prevent smear
ing. rms dllhculty may be overcome
by using paint containing about one
fourth varnish. In the case of sleep,
however, painting is Objectionable he
cause the marks will not scour out and
wool manufacturers object to them,
ana branding fluid therefore is prefer
apIe. Whatever system of marking Is
aopttd' the important features are
that II should be uniform for all ship
-ne.tS ana that the marks should be
'''" an" conspicuous. In many cases
noGS are not marked, but are graded
ny the manager at the slipping point
Is Kept In such cases Martina ;s oil