The Arvada enterprise., 1923-05-03
POOR SHIPMENTS
CAUSE BIG LOSS
Stockmen Frequently Make Mis-.
take in Improper Mixtures
in Loading Animals.
FREIGHT COST MUCH HIGHER
Cattle Take Highest Minimum Rates
With Hogs Next-local Agent
Should Be Consulted Regarding
Pertinent Matters


Prepared b, the United States Department
OF Axricutur-)
Live stock shippers frequently lose
money by shipping improper mixtures
Of animals 10 market, an investigation
BY the United States Department OF
Agriculture shows.
Many instances of losses due to this
cause have come to the departments
attention. For example, co-opera-
tive association in Indiana recently
shipped 4 car containing GB sheep and
q cattle. The sheep weighed 5.l9S
pounds and the cattle $500 pounds.
The total freight charge on the ship
ment was $1O5GO. or at the rate Of
eo cents per 100 pounds.
The actual rates Quotable from the
point Of shipment to point Of desti-
nation We're: Sheep 48 cents and
cattle 3S cents per 100 pounds. The
high rate actually charged was due
largely to the fact that the six cattle
included in the shipment made 1t nee
essary to apply the cattle minimum
weight Of 1900 pounds which may
be compared with the sheep minimum
Of 1900 pounds and with lO005
pounds, which was the actual weight
Of the shipment. Had the cattle been
excluded, this car could have been
forwarded at a total charge Of only
$3.50 instead Of $1O5.6O. which was
actually paid. The charge for ship
ping tho six cattle, therefore, WAS
S48. which was an Increase OF 81 per
cent over the charge which would
have been levied on q straight carload
Of sheep. Stating 1t 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 a.
rule where two or more kinds of
stock are shipped in the same car
tho freight for the entire load Is based
on the highest minimum weight com.
bined with the highest rate. A mix.
rure 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 II gen
orally reversed. Sheep take the high
est rate. hogs and calves the next
highest. with cattle generally taking
the lowest rate.
In all cnses, II Is pointed out, the
local agent should be consulted re
gardlnE 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 compilcs
uOnS, variations and exceptions In
connection with freight tariffs. gener'
ally speaking. cattle have a lower rate
than any other kind OF live stock
Tho hog and calf rates are roughl,
ll5 per cent Of the cattle rate. and
the A'eep rate l25 per cent OF II
Hogs. sheep and calves. when In
double deck cars. ordinarily 70 at the
cattle rate. although In some sections
hogs 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
the expensive combination Of high
minimum weight nnd high rate In e
be avoided. especially II the car Is moi
to be loaded to st least the full mini
mum weight. In some cases where q
shipper has one or two animals oi
one class with = high freight rate Ia
. cnrl0nd Of another class. II muy he
cheaper to exclude them from the
carload and order them forwarded. Ia
the same car. as less than carload
shipment st leSs than cAriOad rates
The cnrricr. however. II required IA
per deflnitciy inxtructs the use OF q
method mixing the ies. than carload
rate applicable.
Som" rntes are made on n car.
length basis When such Is n. ease
and the railroad. for It's own ronven
tencc. furnishes = forty.fooi car SITTER
n standard ear was specified In q
written order. charges must be Hs
sessci on IA STANDARD car. provided the
shipment could have been made In
IN. s'nnll"r car md the Shipper took
IN" proper pr"cnniIon ~ having the
| agent mink" the proper entry on the
| bin ~ lndlng when Iundinp out.