The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-05-03
POOR SHIPMENTS
CAUSE BIGL0SS
Stockmen Frequently Make Mis-
take in Improper Mixtures
in Loading Animals.
FREIGHT COST MUCH HIGHER
Cattle Take Highest Minimum Rates
Nth Hogs Next-loeai Agent
Should es Consulted Regarding
Pertinent MztterA
(Pr.psrsd By the Unitsd States Dspkrtmsnt
Of

Prepared By the United states Department
Of Axriculture)
Live stock shippers frequently lose
money by shipping improper mixtures
OF animals to market. an investigation
by the United States Department OF
Agriculture shows
Many instances OF losses due 10 this
cause have come TO the departments
attention. For example. a co-opera-
I tive association in Indiana recently
shipped a car containing Go sheep and
cattle. The sheep weighed o.lSo
pounds and the cattle $500 pounds.
The total freight charge on the ship
ment was S105.60. or at the rate Of
% cents per 100 pounds.
The actual rates quotable from the
point OF shipment TO point OF dest-
nation were: Sheep AS cents and
cattle IS cents per 100 pounds. The
high raD actually charged was due
largely to the fact that the six cattle
included in the shipment made II nee
essary to apply the cattle minimum
weight OF 1900 pounds, which may
be compared with the sheep minimum
Of 1900 pounds and with lO.99o
pounds, which was the actual weight
sf the shipment. Had the cattle been
excluded, this car could have been
forwarded at a total charge OF only
1890 instead Of $1,000. which was
actually paid The charge for ship
ping the six cattle. therefore. was
s4s, which was an increase Of SO per
cent over the charge which would
have been levied on a straight carload
Of sheep. Stating II differently. the
freight charge on the cattle amounted
to SO cents per 100 pounds.
Highest Weight and Rate.
The important fact TO be borne in
mind. the department says. is that as
rule where two or more kinds OF
stock are shipped In the same car
the freight for the entire load is based
on the highest minimum weight COM
bined with the highest rate. A mix
ture OF cattle and sheep therefore
usually takes the cattle minimum
weight and the sheep rate.
As a rule cattle take the highest
minimum weights. with hogs next. |
calves next and sheep the lowest. In |
the case OF rates the order is gen
orally reversed. Sheep take the high
est rate. hogs and calves the hext
highest. with cattle generally taking
the lowest rate.
In all cases. II is pointed out, the
local agent should be consulted re
garding minimum weights. freight
rates. shrinkage allowances and any
other pertinent matters II the shipper
desires TO forward his stock in the
most economical manner.
Although there are many complica-
ions. variations and exceptions In
with freight tariffs. gener-
ally speaking cattle have a lower rate
than any other kind OF live stock.
The hog and calf rates are roughly
lis per cent Of the cattle rate. and
The sheep rate 125 per cent Of II.
Hogs. sheep and calves. when in
iouble deck cars. ordinarily 20 at the
,attle rate. although in some sections
iogs are accorded the same rate
whether in double or single deck cars.
Plan Economical Mixtures.
Obviously. In planning economical
mixtures OF live stock for shipment.
he expensive combination OF high
minimum weight and high rate is 10
,e avoided. especially II the car is not
o be loaded to at least the full mini
mum weight. In some cases where :
hipper has one or two animals Of
ne class with high freigh, rate 10
carload Of another class. II may be
heaper to exclude them from the
arioad and order them forwarded. In
he same car. as less than carload
hipment NJ less than carload rates
he carrier. however. Is required 20
ollect the lower rate unless the ship
or definitely Instructs the use % q
iefhod making the less than carload
ate applicable.
Some rates are made on a car
myth basis. When such Is the case
nd the railroad. for It's own conven-
nee. furnishes a forty-foot car after
standard car was specified IN q
-ritfpn order charges must be a.
sssed on n standard car. provided the
iipmenf could have been made IN
70 smaller car and the shipper took {
he proper prccauti0n - having the Q
rent make the proper entry on the 7
NJ - frfs~~ rrfnr fnarf~.- r~ts II