Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-05-04
Stockmen Frequently Make Mis-
take in improper Mixtures
In Loading Animals.
FREIGHT COST MUCH HIGHER
Cattle Take Highest Minimum Rates
With Hogs Next-LoeaI Agent
Should Be Consulted Regarding
Pertinent Matters
prepared BY the United States Department
Of Anriculiuret

prepared BY the United States Department.
OF Asricultufe1
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 to this
cause have come to the departments
attention. For example. a eo-opera-
tive association in Indiana recently
shipped car containing GO sheep and
o cattle. The sheep weighed 5,l90
pounds and the cattle $500 pounds.
The total freight charge on the ship
ment was s105.6O. or at the rate OF
95 cents per 100 pounds.
The actual rates quotabIe from the
point of shipment to point Of desti-
nation we're: Sheep 4S cents and
cnttle 3s cents per 100 pounds. The
high rate actually charged was due
largely 10 the fact that the six cattle
included in the shipment made It nee
essary to apply the cattle minimum
weight Of 22.O00 pounds. which may
be compared with the sheep minimum
Of 1900 pounds and with 10,995
pounds, which was the actual weight
OF the shipment. Had the cattle been
excluded, this car could have been
forwarded at total charge Of only
$500 Instead Of S1O5.60. which was
actually paid. The charge for ship
ping the six cattle. therefore, was
SIS. which was an increase of SO per
cent over the charge which would
have been levied on a 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 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. mix
ture Of cattle and sheep therefore
usually takes the cattle minimum
weight and the sheep rate.
As 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 next
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 If the shipper
desires to forward his stock in the
most economical manner.
Although there are many compiler
lions, variations and exceptions In
connection 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
115 per cent of the cattle rate, and
the sheep rate 1875 per cent Of II.
Hogs. sheep and calves. when in
double deck. cars. ordinarily go 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 and high rate is to
be avoided. especially If the car is not
to be loaded to at least the full mini.
mum weight. In some cases where
shipper has one or two animals Of
one class with a high freight rate In
a carload of another class. 1t may be
cheaper to exclude them from the
carload and order them forwarded, In
the same car, as less than carload
shipment at less than carload rates.
The carrier, however. is required to