Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-05-24
SHIPPING OF LIVESTOCK
Associations for This Purpose
Prove Successful.
STARTED IN MINNESOTA
Enables Members TO Ship In Car Lots
to Central Markets, Instead OF Be-
ing at Mercy OF Local Buyers.

CldIlOuS nave pAeNSu -
that. although the first was not formed
until 1908, the Department OF Agrl-
culture now has list of approximate
" 500 that are shipping stock in
cooperative way, says the Government
Bulletin. About 200 of these are in
Minnesota, where the movement start
ed, and the remainder are chiefly in
the Middle West.
The main purpose Of these associa-
lions 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 a few animals from time to
time
The fact that no capital is required
for the organization of such an as
ISOLATION, says a new publication of
the department, which deals with this
subject, makes these associations pos
sible in communities in which more
complicated forms of cooperation
would not succeed. The bulletin,
however, points out that such asso-
Citations 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 there is so little that the as
ISOLATION has practically nothing with
which to work.
To organize such an association 1t
is necessary only for the farmers OF
the community to meet together, adopt
a simple constitution and bylaws,
sample Of which is given in the bull
letin already mentioned, to elect Of
fjcers, and, in turn, for them to ap-
point a manager. 1t is recommended
although it is not absolutely necessary
that the organization incorporate. This
can be done at nominal cOst-usual-
Iy not more than SO. For this small
expenditure of trouble and money the
association usually enables the farmer
to market his stock when it is ready
instead Of compelling him to wait un-
til the local shipper is ready to buy it.
He obtains for himself the benefits OF
the cheaper carload transportation,
and the shipments of the association
realize for the owner the market price
OF his stock less the actual cost of
marketing. In particular, it has been
found that when thin stock, calves,
or lambs are sold in small numbers,
the local price is usually very low. 1t
is on this class of stock that the asso-
Citations have been able to save their
members the most money.
In order to avoid misunderstanding,
il is important that all stock be mark
ed at the shipping point. This pre-
caution 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. Num-
bers or other characters may be clip
ped 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 stock
yards to get close enough to the ami
NAL to see the number on the tag. If
the second method is adopted, Ordin-
airy paint is undesirable, especially
for hogs as it does not dry readily
enough to prevent smearing. This diff
ficulty may be overcome by using
paint containing about One-fourth var
nish In the case of sheep, however,
painting is Objectionable because the
marks will not scOur out and wool
manufacturers Objec1 to them, and
branding fluid therefore is preferable.
Whatever system of marking is
adopted. the important features are
that it should be uniform for all'ship-
ments and that the marks should be
plain and conspicuous. In many cas-
es hogs are not marked, but are grad
81 by the manager at the shipping
point. A record of those subject to
.Iockage is kept in such cases. Mark
.ng is advised, however, as a precau-
ton against mistakes.
Since no payments are made for
stock shipped until returns from the
central market are obtained, these CO.
operative associations may be formed
without capital All that is necessary
is for the farmers TO comply with their
engagement to furnish the stock to the
manager when, where, and in such
quantities as they say they will.
In some associations a fixed sum
of money is eXacted from a shipper
I0r failure 20 deliver stock to the
manager as agreed. In every case the
amount to be eXacted should be rea-
enable and should fairly represent
the actual loss which is estimated the
association will suffer as the result
OF non-delivery. The provision for
Iiquidated damage is proper, because
he manager Inust arrange for GER
It is not used the expense to those
Tho do ship is pToportionately great
er.