The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-02-12

Grading Of Cattle Explained
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
The big stockyards of the country
are being used temporarily for short
course schools. Instruction Of q very
practical sort is being conducted,
namely, in the best methods of mar
live stock. One of the first of
these schools was conducted in the
National stockyards at East st. Louis,
ILL.,, a few weeks ago, and was such
n pronounced success that the "stu-
unanimously passed resolu-
tons urging that similar courses be
offered semiannually.
The bureau Of markets of the Unit
ed States department of agriculture In
cooperation with the National FEEDER
alton Of Live Stock Shipping associ-
ations has been instrumental in pro-
noting this work.
This instruction is given primarily
for managers Of live stock shipping
associations and others directly in
terested in shipping live stock. A
course similar to that given at st.
Louis has been conducted in Kansas
City. Arrangements have been made
for repeating them in Omaha, Chica-
go, Sioux City, Detroit, South st.
Paul, and other cities.
Morning and Afternoon Glasses.
What was done at the Kansas City
meetings is typical of the instruction
10 other cities. The course covered
three days, classes opening at $3.50.
The first morning an intensive study
was made Of the grades Of cattle and
hogs largely marketed through ship
ping associations. 1t was a big sub
ject to cover in a single morning, but
the men were intensely eager for the
facts and there vas no need for ped
agogical repetition, nor We're there
useless questions to take up the time
of the instructors.
The 1:3O o'clock session might be
called a class in applied bookkeeping,
as the afternoon was given over to
accounting methods for shipping as
ssociations, including much helpful ex-
PLANTATION of the methods Of prorating
shipments. There was help also for
managers about the regulations gov
erning freight rates and minimum
weights of mixed shipments. The case
of one shipper was cited who recently
sswas required to pay $50 more freight
on a mixed car Of calves and pigs than
he would have incurred had he been
properly informed on the regulations.
1t was pointed put that the presence
of q few calves in this shipment of
pigs required that the minimum
weight for a of cattle be used us
a basis of calculation instead of q low
er minimum which is allowed for hogs,
Notwithstanding, the total had to be
computed at the "hog rate" which is
higher than the cattle rate. The men
present felt that many single points
Alike this brought out ut the sessions
more than repaid them for all the
time and money spent in attending the
classes.
A conference of the managers was
also held the first afternoon at which
they took up the problems of shrink
age and similar questions.
Reporting Service Explained.
Addresses were given by representa-.
tives of the bureau Of markets the
morning of the second day. in which
the bureaus market reporting service
was fully explained. Representatives
of the local stockyards company and
the local live stock exchange also
spoke. One Of the subjects to which
they called special attention was the
Increased development, of cooperative
marketing Of live stock. The grading
of sheep and lambs vas explained by
buyers for packing houses and repre-
sentatives Of commission firms.
In the afternoon the men were giver
a chance to see how the differen,
classes of animals "killed out" thai
Is. the character of the various car
.casses from the standpoint of the
butcher, or packer. Everything said
was specific and practical. When II
came 10 u uCIul1CO NAoNuooAOu VI llS
value of %arcasse of this or thai
grade all the figures. brought right VI
TO date, we're supplied by officials o.
the packing plant. In the same way
the men secured much valuable infor
nation regarding the special demand
which each class Of meat supplies. Or
the third and last day much of wha'
- H. kvV0 n0rve1,
days was repeated for the benefit o.
aevera men who had been unable tt
attend earlier sessions.
The schedule Of most of the schools
calls for visits to the stocker and feed
.er divisions of the hog and sheer
wards. on the morning Of the thirt
.,lny. How u manager can assist II
distributing thin animals Of good quail