The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-10-15
Federal Department Makes q
Very Exhaustive Study of
the Situation.

WASHINGTON. oct 14.--Market
variation in methods of marketing
meat animals in different sections OF
the United States and in methods or
marketing different classes of animals
in the country as 4 whole has been
found by specialists of the United
States department Of agriculture from
survey of the live stock marketing
conditions OF thu country The data
obtained BY the survey have been pub
lishrd as part FIVE or report Of an
rxhaustiv estudy OF the meat sItua-
tion in tho United States.
Three General Methods.
The three general methods of mar
keting found to be in most common
usa are:
Shipping TO the large centralized
markets, selling TO local butchers and
packers, and the sale Of farm-pre-
pared meats to dealers or consumers.
The bulk OF the animals from the
central states, il was found. is sold
through tho centralized markets
while some form or local marketing
predominates in the extreme eastern
western, and southern sections
The great central markets handle
four-hiifths Of the sheep and lambs.
two-thirds OF the hogs, and approx
mately one-half OF the beef cattle
For local slaughter about onc-third
OF the beef cattle, one-cighth OF the
sheep and lambs. and one-twelfth OF
the hogs are sold. Nearly one-third
OF The hogs and about one-tenth OF
the beef cattle and one-twentieth Of
the sheep and lambs are slaughtered
on farms and ranges. Relatively more
sheep are shipped in carload lots by
owners than any other class or live
stock Cattle. hogs. and calves fol-
low in the order named In sales to
local buyers hogs lead with calves,
cattle. and sheep following in order
Only Few Months,
The study discloses that the time
OF buying stockers and feeders and
the selling Of finished animals is re-
stricted too generally TO a few months
OF the year. Should stock-feeding OPP
erations be better adjusted to market
conditions, decided influence toward
more even distribution OF the sup
ply would be the result
Cooperative associations OF cattle
raisers are becoming an important
factor in marketing, the report shows.
Seven hundred and nifty organiza-
tons which market cattle in Il CO.
operative way now exist in fifteen
states. Four hundred and thirty of
these organizations are primarily live
stock shipping associations. The
greatest activity Of this sort was
found in Minnesota, where 215 CO.
operative i've stock shipping associa-
tons are located. The department
specialists declare that these associa-
tons bring greater returns to the
farmers because OF the reduction of
marketing expenses and the rAaliza-
tion OF the prevailing prices at the
centralized markets. and that they are
also valuable because OF their educa.
tional features.
The system Of centralized live stock
markets in the United States is the
/ largest single factor in the market
Ing Of meat animals. II is noteworthy
that this system is peculiar to the
United States. no other country hav-
ing developed such markets for their
live stock. Not only is live stock sold
for slaughter at the centralized mar
kets. but large proportion of stock
er and feeder cattle also passes
through these market centers.
The chief outlet for food producing
! animals in this country. the study dis