The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-11-05
Need Standards
for Live Stock
Complete Set Of Names and
Terms to Describe
Groups Desirable.
prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.l


Prepared by the United states Department
of Agricuture)
The need for standard market
classes and grades of live stock is
emphasized by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture in bulletin
which sets forth a Standardization
program.
Even since the establishment of
central live stock markets." says the
bulletin, there has been considerable
confusion. much disappointment, and
untold loss and waste, because Of the
difficulty in describing market trans
actions in such way that the pro-
Queer on the farm or on the range,
the slaughterer at some distant pack
ing center, the trader on another mar
ket, and the student in his classroom,
may understand exactly what hap
pened on the market.
Have Own Standards.
Practically every live stock mar
ket has its own standards, its indi-
vidual preferences, and its own meth
DDS of doing business. All these mat
ters are thoroughly understood by
those on the market daily, but when
an attempt is made to describe mar
ket transactions to some one at dis
lance, or to one who Is unfamiliar
with practices prevailing at that par
ticular market, difficulties are en-
countered.
much of the confusion" the depart
ment continues, "arises from the fact
that certain set of names and trade
terms are rather generally used to
describe live stock at all markets.
The meaning Of the names and terms,
however, varies between markets, be-
tween individuals on the same mar
ket, and frequently with the same in
dividual on the same market at differ
ent times and different seasons.
Zone result Of this variety Of def
nitions Of terms and shifting Of stand
ards is that producers having shipped
live stock to a certain market in the
belief that prices were highest there,
frequently are disappointed to find
that prices actually are higher at
some other market which they might
have patronized. Frequently live
stock Is forwarded from one market
10 another because the shippers be-
lieveS the second market is higher than
the first, when subsequent events show
the opposite to be the case. In most
instances of this kind the difficulty Is
due, not to any intention to deceive
on the part of anyone, but merely to
the fact that the same or similar
terms carry different meanings on DIFF
ferent markets and when used by diff
ferent individuals.
Desirable Conditions.
"In view Of such conditions 1t would
seem highly desirable to have a COM
plete set Of terms and names with
which to describe the various groups
into which live stock is sorted at cen
trail markets and, for such names, def
mite and fixed definitions which can
be understood and interpreted in the
same way by producers, shippers.
commission men, traders, packer buy
ers, or anyone else connected with the
industry. Such an arrangement must
facilitate live stock marketing and
tend to eliminate disappointment, loss,
and waste"
The set Of standards and definitions
for the leading kinds Of live stock are
published in full in Department Bull
letin 136O-D, Market Glasses and
Grades Of Live Stock" copies Of
which may be obtained. as long as the
supply lasts, by addressing the United
States Department Of Agriculture,
Wochinoton n q