BULLETIN No. 281 MARCH 1952 ALABAMA FARMERS BUY csd SELL LIVESTOCK 4o.r STATION EXPERIMENT AGRICULTURAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE o6e ALABAMA E. V. Smith, Director Auburn, Alabama CONTENTS IMPORTANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVESTOCK SOLD AND BOUGHT -------------- 7 ------------------ 7 Glasses and Ages of Livestock Sold 9 Classes of Livestock Bought ---------------Relationship of Purchases to Sales-------------------10 Seasonality of Livestock Marketings-----------------11 --------------- MARKETS USED BY FARMERS--------------- 13 Markets Used When Selling Livestock----------------13 --------------- 15 Markets Used When Buying Livestock ------------------- 16 Movement of Livestock to Market ----------------------- 16 Manner of Movement-------------------------- 17 Distance of Movement-----------18 Reasons for Choice of Markets __---------------------------------------- 18 Choice When Selling ---------------- 18 Choice When Buying -----------MARKETING PRACTICES OF FARMERS--------------------------18 --------------------- 18 Selling Methods and Practices Proportion of Farms Selling--------------------18 ----------------------- 19 Livestock Sold per Farm ------------------------ 19 -----Frequency of Sale ------------------------ 2 -o o Si-e Importance of Various Sizes of Lots Sold----------______20 Weights of Livestock Sold---------------------___________22 Basis of Selling-----------------------------------------------23 Place of Sale--------------------------------------------------24 Size of Lots Sold _______________ _ 2 Relationship of Livestock Sales to Various Factors 26 ---- Type of Market Used --------------------------------------- 26 Livestock Bought --------------------------------------------- 27 Other Livestock Sold--------------------------______________27 Basis of Sale and Place of Sale-------------------__________28 Buying Methods and Practices --------------------------- 28 Proportion of Farms Buying---------------------___________28 Livestock Bought per Farm---------------------___________29 Frequency of Purchase and Size of Lots Purchased __29 Basis of Purchase --------------------------------------- 29 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS--------------------------------------------- 31 -- 35 APPENDIX ----------------------------------------------------------- ]FIRST PRINTING 8M, MARCH 1952 G4W ALABAMA FARMERS BUY ad SELL LIVESTOCK" M. J. DANNER Associate Agricultural Economist THE TOTAL SALES of livestock and livestock products, including those of dairy products, poultry and eggs, from Alabama farms have shown a remarkable increase since 1925. For the period 1926-30, livestock and livestock products accounted for an average of 16.4 per cent of the total cash farm income of Alabama farmers but increased to 32.8 per cent of the total for the period 1946-50.1 The increase for meat animals alone was even greater proportionately from 6.4 per cent of total cash farm income for the earlier period to 18.3 per cent of that of the later period. Of the cash receipts derived from the sale of meat animals in 1950, cattle and calves accounted for 50.7 per cent, hogs 49.1 per cent, and sheep and lambs only 0.2 per cent of the total. With the exception of sheep and lambs, production and marketings of livestock have also shown a sharp increase since 1925. The production of cattle and calves more than doubled between the two periods, 1926-30 and 1946-50, while production of hogs almost doubled.2 Marketings of cattle from farms have almost trebled and marketings of hogs have more than trebled since the earlier periods (Figure 1). These increases are expressed in terms of live weight. Yet Alabama farmers do not market or, for that * These studies are a part of a regional plan of livestock marketing research in which a number of Southern States, and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United States Department of Agriculture are cooperating. Each state is conducting its own research program; however, there is joint planning and coordination of research through a Regional Technical Committee representing each of the participating states and agencies. Participating states include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. "Cash Receipts from Farming, 1924-1944"; and "Farm Income Situation," June 1951, U.S.D.A., B.A.E., Washington, D. C. 2 "Meat Animals-Farm Production and Income," 1924-44, 1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1949-50, U.S.D.A., B.A.E., Washington, D. C. ' 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 1926-30 1931-35 1936-40 1941-45 1946-50 I I A 1 r 1926-30 1946-50j 1941-45 1936-40 1931-35 SBased on annual U.S. per capita consumption FIGURE 1. Production, marketing, and consumption of cattle and calves, and hogs, Alabama, 1926-30 to 1946-50. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 5 matter, produce nearly enough meat animals to supply the State's needs, based on United States per capita consumption rates. However, producers are furnishing a larger proportion of meat requirements now than in the earlier period. The increases in livestock production and marketings, as well as the greater income from meat animals, have been due to a number of factors. Among these have been the reduction in acreages devoted to cotton and corn with accompanying higher yields and the use of these acreages for the development of improved pastures and forage crops. More widespread improvement of permanent pastures, plus some expansion, and an accompanying increase in livestock production is likely to continue. With an increased emphasis on livestock production, the need for greater attention to marketing practices and marketing outlets has developed. In recognition of this need, a study of livestock marketing practices and marketing outlets was made. This report concerns livestock selling and buying practices of farmers, including marketing outlets used. A fuller companion report on marketing outlets will complete the present phase. These studies were conducted in order to provide background information for more basic research that is expected to follow. Additional research being planned concerns price-grade differentials paid for livestock as well as means of reducing marketing costs and increasing efficiency. Specific objectives of this study were: (1) To determine the importance and characteristics of livestock sold and bought by farmers, (2) To determine the types and relative importance of marketing outlets used by farmers, and (3) To ascertain existing marketing practices of farmers and major problems that result therefrom. To obtain data representative of the State as a whole, an area sampling plan, designed by the Department of Experimental Statistics, North Carolina State College, was followed.' Results of the study have been tabulated on a type-of-farming area basis (Figure 2). Although area data should not be conSData described were collected for the year 1950. The State was divided into 17 strata based on the value of livestock sold, excluding dairy and poultry products, with one county selected for sampling purposes within each stratum. type-of-farming areas were represented in the sample. A total of 163 segments was included in the sample plan. In addition, all major 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Sample counties r r "'C'Yn~. h' I~~S'I~,~ ':~i~;~i;J FIGURE 2. Farming areas of Alabama HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 7 sidered strictly typical of conditions within each area, they can be considered indicative of conditions on an area basis. An exception is sheep and lambs. Sales were reported for sheep only in Baldwin County and no purchases were reported in any area. As a result it was felt that an adequate sample of sheep and lambs was not obtained from the area sampled.4 For this reason, only brief attention is given to sheep and lambs in this report. An attempt was made to contact and interview personally all farmers in each segment. In all, 606 farmers were interviewed from whom usable schedules were obtained. Of these farmers, 52 per cent sold livestock and 58 per cent either sold and/or bought livestock in 1950. IMPORTANCE ans CHARACTERISTICS oj LIVESTOCK SOLD and BOUGHT Classes and Ages oj Livestock Sold Slaughter animals were the most important class of livestock sold by Alabama farmers in 1950. Slaughter cattle and calves, excluding veal calves, made up 75 per cent of all cattle sold (Figure 3). Veal calves accounted for 9 per cent. Stocker and feeder cattle amounted to 10 per cent of the total and dairy and breeding animals constituted 6 per cent of all cattle sold. Of all hogs sold slaughter hogs comprised 69 per cent, feeder hogs 30 per cent, and breeding hogs only 1 per cent. It is apparent that the feeder market for hogs is relatively more important than for cattle. Largest numbers of cattle sold were reported in the Black Belt Area in central Alabama. The next most important areas were the Coastal Plain and the Valley, while the least important area was the Piedmont (Appendix Table 1). Largest hog sales were reported in the Coastal Plain and Valley areas. Again the least important area was the Piedmont (Appendix Table 2). The Valley and Piedmont areas reported relatively more veal SThe U. S. Census for 1950 reports a total of 24,889 sheep and lambs in Alabama principally concentrated in portions of the Black Belt and Southwest Piney Woods areas and in Madison County of the Tennessee Valley Area. Sheep and lambs are not sold in important numbers in any area, although a number of sheep and lamb sales are held during the year in the Black Belt. The most important sheep and lamb market in this area is at Demopolis, Alabama. 8 ALABAMA 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION calves sold; otherwise, there did not appear to be important differences between classes of cattle sold within the State. A larger proportion of the hogs sold were slaughter as compared to feeders in the Coastal Plain, Southwest Piney Woods, and Mountain areas. For the State as a whole, 51 per cent of the cattle and calves sold in 1950 were in the age group of 6 months to 1 year (Figure 4). Seventeen per cent of the cattle and calves were under 6 months of age when sold and 19 per cent were over 2 years of age when marketed. The latter were predominantly dairy and breeding animals. Undoubtedly, a substantial portion of the older cattle sold was more or less forced sales, that is, culled for age or other undesirable characteristics. It appears, then, that the portion of "voluntary" sales, which are in the calf to short-yearling group, is comparatively high. For hogs, 64 per cent were sold between the ages of 6 months to 1 year. Sixteen per cent of the hogs were under 8 months of age when sold and 11 per cent were between 3 and 5 months of age. Hogs up to 6 months of age were principally feeder hogs. Only 9 per cent of the hogs sold were over 1 year old. 0 ," ri M9 per of ce nt y. 20 . Per cent 40 :I f - :It Y." r _ :. '!: sold 60 -:. S'. Ro I 4' : l00 I y,3",? l Ryat ~,G" ,."'{ih 1 een hoE w j 7 t o i f i ' y: vv Slaughter (not veal) Veal Stockers and feeders Dairy and breeding L{ d 11 w%, a pe cen: 1 =' ; 4 ~ ! _75 j 9 10CATTLE AND CALVES Slaughter Feeder Breeding FIGURE 3. Distribution by classes of livestock sold by Alabama farmers, 1950. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 9 Per Agee: Under 6 mo. cent sold Age: 0 20 17 40 60 80 100 6 mo. to I year -51 1-2 years OverUn years 2 r 1 19 CATTLE AND CALVES Under 3 mo 3 to 5 mo 6 mo. to I year Over I year 16 HOGS 64 9 FIGURE 4. Distribution by age groups of livestock sold by Alabama Formers, 1950. Farmers in the Coastal Plain, Southwest Piney Woods, and Mountain areas reported selling most of their cattle at ages in excess of 1 year. The same areas sold hogs also at an older age as compared to other areas (Appendix Table 8). Classes oj Livestock Bought Most of the livestock bought by Alabama farmers was made up of stockers and feeders. In 1950, stockers and feeders comprised 69 per cent of all cattle bought, and feeders were 90 per cent of all hogs bought. Dairy and breeding animals accounted for 28 per cent of all cattle purchases, while only 7 per cent of all hogs bought were breeding animals (Figure 5). The areas where purchases were greatest coincide with areas of heaviest sales. For the State in 1950, purchases of cattle and calves were 74 per cent of sales and purchases of hogs were 87 per cent of sales. The purchase of animals for dairy and breeding purposes was 10 r Stockers and feeders Dairy and breeding Slaughter ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Per cent bought Feeder Breeding Slaughter FIGURE 5. Distribution by classes of livestock bought by Alabama farmers, 1950. least important in the Black Belt and Coastal Plain as compared to other areas (Appendix Table 4). Hogs purchased for breeding purposes were not reported in important numbers in any particular area. Relationship o Purchases to Sales The number of farmers who sold cattle and hogs in 1950 was more than twice the number who bought cattle and hogs. The amount of cattle bought by these farmers was about three-fourths of the amount sold, but the amount of hogs bought was only a little more than a third of the amount sold (Table 1). TABLE 1. NUMBER OF FARMS BUYING AND SELLING LIVESTOCK, NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK BOUGHT AND SOLD, AND RATIOS OF PURCHASES TO SALES, ALABAMA, 1950 Farms reporting Species Livestock bought and sold B Ratio of ng uying bSelling fa farmsfarms to Cattle and calves Hogs Number Number 233 195 104 100 selling Per cent 2.2 to 1 2.0 to 1 livestock bought to livestock sold Per cent Number Number Sold Bought Ratio of 1,391 8,160 1,034 1,177 1.3 to 1 2.8 to 1 HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 11 Perhaps more important findings were that in 1950 there were five times as many stocker and feeder cattle bought as were sold, and that there were three times as many dairy and breeding cattle bought as were sold (Appendix Table 5). This indicates a sizeable herd build-up in 1950. This situation did not exist for feeder or breeding hogs in the State as a whole; however, farmers in the Coastal Plain and the Southwest Piney Woods bought more feeder hogs than the number of feeders sold in the two areas. The Black Belt, Valley, and Mountain areas had ratios of feeder and breeder cattle purchases to sales that were importantly different from the State average. Stocker and feeder purchases were much greater than sales in the Black Belt Area, and dairy and breeding purchases were much greater than sales in the Black Belt as well as the Valley and Mountain areas. Seasonality 'a Livestock Marketings The largest numbers of cattle and calves were sold by Alabama farmers in the last half of the year, with a noticeable increase in October, November, and December (Appendix Table 6). During 1950, 38 per cent of all cattle were sold in this 3month period, which corresponds very closely with the national to-market movement of grass cattle. The 6-month period, July through December, accounted for 69 per cent of the sales. A seasonal increase occurred in May, which was due perhaps to farmers' response to more favorable prices. In addition, there appeared to be larger numbers of cattle between the ages of 1 and 2 years sold during May. A large proportion of the cattle in excess of 2 years of age was sold in December. Otherwise, seasonal variations by age groups were about the same as for all cattle. Since most of the cattle sold were reported to be slaughter cattle, seasonal variations for this class were about the same as for all cattle (Figure 6). Neither was there seasonal variation among stocker and feeder cattle in 1950 as ordinarily would be expected. Only 26 per cent of the cattle of this class were sold in the first half of the year but over half the movement was reported in the 3 months of August, October, and December. The high peak movement of feeders in August was probably due to large numbers of calves off grass. A larger proportion of breeding cattle as compared to stockers and feeders was sold in May. Otherwise there were no important seasonal differences in the two classes. During 1950, farmers reported selling 60 per cent of their hogs 12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION in the last 6 months of the year (Appendix Table 6). In the last 4 months alone, September through December, 45 per cent of all hogs were sold. In the 3-month period, March through May, 25 per cent of all hogs were sold. During this period, the sale of feeder pigs was extremely important. For example, over half of the pigs under 3 months of age were sold during this time. The Per cent I CATTLE 25 20 AND CALVES I I Stockers & feeders 10p-S!oughter 0 J Per cent 25 e,- F M A M MONTH J OF J A SALE S O N D HO0GS Under 3 months of age 20 15 / 6 months - I year 10 4f/A- 1 MONTH OF SALE %- FIGURE 6. Distribution by selected classes and ages of livestock sold each month by Alabama formers, 1950. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 13 sale of feeder hogs was also important in September and October. There did not appear to be a heavy seasonal sale of older hogs in the spring. Over half of the hogs 6 months of age and older, which were slaughter hogs for the most part, were sold in the fall and winter months, September through December (Figure 6). The peak of the to-market movement of slaughter hogs preceded the national fall peak by about a month. There was only a very slight peak in the spring hog movement. On the other hand, there were in 1950 two distinct peaks in the sale of feeder pigs. This indicates that efficient hog producers in Alabama may find it advantageous to feed out two pig crops for the market within the year. MARKETS USED 4 FARMERS Markets Used When Selling Livestock Auctions were by far the most important outlet used by Alabama farmers for the sale of their livestock. In 1950, 76 per cent of the cattle and calves, and 57 per cent of the hogs were reported by farmers to have been sold through auctions. Farmers as a group were the next most important single outlet, with 6 per cent of the cattle and calves and 17 per cent of the hogs being sold from farm to farm. Other outlets in terms of their importance are shown in Figure 7. Country buyers and local dealers bought 11 per cent of the cattle and 18 per cent of the hogs sold by farmers. Proportionately, more cattle than hogs were sold through terminal public markets, while more hogs than cattle were sold direct to packers. Auctions were more important outlets for slaughter cattle than for stockers and feeders and breeding animals. Dairy and breeding animals were, for the most part, sold to other farmers, country buyers, and local dealers. These same outlets were relatively more important for stockers and feeders than for slaughter cattle. However, auctions were still more commonly used for either class (Appendix Table 7). Slaughter hogs were sold predominantly through auctions while feeder and breeding hogs were sold most commonly to other farmers. Auctions and country buyers were also important outlets for feeder hogs (Appendix Table 8). Relatively fewer cattle and calves were sold through auctions 14 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 14 A LABAA AGRICULTUA Per cent 40 XEIMN TTO I l ' ' 20 . : . . ? .ctz.C "::ve; . k , ", ,y:1 .1" 'i y f17 :N .c^"vl'!Y 2 a" t t ,._' ii sold 60 '.1 }j ' "t y.tr.s t" t i" , .. $:S C .n-i ;.. rt; ._; 'Y: r ... v. t r. gitfi''l':. . !" ". ':.' iw.C,' ti: i}L.r . :tr'{r 80 100 '"o;+.:'.y. T.yn " ,".-1 * .. : i:Gr !. . d."". ;?";' 5, ,. rt .. '{E Auction Farmers ' rr l; -v ''" , . -r;. '..}' 7i ?r ;r ^t"'S" (:::;::;} A t."ytl rs'. , is G.YAs. {,. i7 "M % y,, 3' "; w fFt{ "il.. 'bT:. " y ;; S..f+'''' ."1 >. i ti:.'; r' ' ./ i l. it! _ ._ _ f".>: . Y...y+"/.+,7, y..r u... " f : '_ "C- .r .'i"1i tS^": :hG'=. 1., 76 6 ,,G Country buyers Local dealers Terminal market Packer Local butcher xrr 6 5 5 CATTLE Al ND CALVES r ;r I Auction Farm er s Country buyers Local dealers Termifal market Packer Local butcher t )k Less than 0.5 per cent FIGURE 7. Distribution of livestock sold through various types of markets by Alabama farmers, 1950. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 15 in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas than in other areas (Appendix Table 7). For example, 86 per cent of the cattle sold in the Piedmont were to country buyers and local dealers. Proportionately fewer hogs were sold through auctions in the more important production areas of the Coastal Plain and Valley than for other areas. Nevertheless, auctions were still the most important outlet. In the Piedmont, as was true of cattle, country buyers and local dealers were used almost altogether as sales outlets for hogs (Appendix Table 8). In the less important hog-producing areas of the Black Belt and Piney Woods, feeder hogs as well as slaughter hogs were sold most commonly through auctions. Apparently, auctions gave satisfactory service to cattle producers in 1950. However, it would seem that country buyers bought a fairly large percentage of the hogs. Markets Used When Buying Livestock The market outlets used by farmers in selling livestock were, for the most part, those used by farmers when buying livestock. However, their relative importance was somewhat changed. Auctions were the most important source for both cattle and hogs but other farmers were much more important as a source for buying livestock than as an outlet in selling livestock. In 1950, Alabama farmers reported buying 69 per cent of their cattle and calves through auctions, 14 per cent from other farmers, 10 per cent through terminal public markets, and 7 per cent from local dealers and country buyers (Figure 8). For hogs, 58 per cent were bought through auctions, 86 per cent from other farmers, and 6 per cent from local dealers and country buyers. A large proportion of the stocker and feeder cattle was bought through auctions, but sources other than auctions were more important for breeding cattle (Appendix Table 9). For example, only 6 per cent of the stocker and feeder cattle were bought from other farmers, while 32 per cent of the breeding cattle were obtained from farmers. Local dealers and country buyers were also important sources of breeding cattle. The terminal public market in Montgomery was an important source of stocker and feeder cattle purchased in the Black Belt area of central Alabama. Other area differences were not noticeable, except that breeding cattle were commonly bought through auctions in the Black Belt and Mountain areas. Since relatively small numbers of hogs were bought for pur- 16 1~ 0 16 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ALABr4~AA ~GRICUL1 20 I Per " cent 40 v v bought 60 v 80 v v I 100 NOW I I I I Auction Farmers Country buyers Local dealers Terminal market s ts CI_ ,,s S_69 CATTLE AND CALVES ~A10 rvl~1 I Auction Farmers Country buyers Local dealers FIGURE 8. Distribution of livestock bought from various types of markets by Alabama farmers, 1950. poses other than feeding, purchase patterns for feeder hogs were about the same as for all hogs. Area differences did not appear to be important in 1950 (Appendix Table 10) Movement aoj Livestock I& Market Manner cj Movement. Almost all of the livestock sold by Alabama farmers was moved to market by truck, either in trucks, hired trucks, or buyers' trucks. In 1950, 72 per cent ers' farm- of the cattle and 52 per cent of the hogs were moved in farmers' trucks. Of the remainder, most were moved in buyers' trucks (Table 2). Stocker and feeder animals, both cattle and hogs, HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 17 TABLE 2. DISTRIBUTION OF LIVESTOCK SOLD BY SPECIES AND CLASSES FROM FARMs THAT WERE TRANSPORTED BY SPECIFIED METHODS, ALABAMA, 1950 Method of transportation Farmer's truck Per cent CATTLE AND CALVES Hired truck Per cent Buyer's truck Per cent Slaughter Stockers and feeders Other classes ALL CATTLE 78 83 27 72 18 41 14 18 9 26 59 15 HOGS Slaughter Feeder Other classes ALL HOGS 64 23 63 52 22 13 6 19 14 64 31 29 were not commonly moved in the farmers' trucks, however, probably because of the different outlets used when these animals were sold. For example, feeder hogs were commonly moved by country buyers, including other farmers, in their trucks. Distance of Movement. Most of the livestock sold by Alabama farmers moved to market outlets no more than 15 miles away. For all outlets, 72 per cent of the cattle and 76 per cent of the hogs were moved no more than 15 miles. An additional 19 per cent of cattle and 15 per cent of hogs were moved no more than 30 miles. Only 2 per cent of the cattle and 4 per cent of the hogs were moved distances in excess of 45 miles (Table 3). TABLE 3. DISTRIBUTION OF LIVESTOCK SOLD BY ALABAMA FARMERS ACCORDING TO DISTANCES FROM PRINCIPAL OUTLETS USED, 1950 Outlet Under 16 miles 16-80 miles 81-45 miles Over 45 miles Per cent CATTLE AND CALVES Per cent 17 86 ... 19 Per cent 7 6 7 6-10 Per cent 1 91 Auction Packer 75 9 Dealer Farmers 53 100 OUTLETS 5 2 ALL HOGS 72 74 46 Auction Packer 20 8 36 Dealer Farmers 90 81 5 ._ 4 5 1 19 ALL OUTLETS 76 15 4 18 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Only cattle sold to dealers or country buyers and hogs sold direct to packers differed importantly from the over-all pattern. Distances moved in these instances were somewhat greater. The same was true of cattle sold direct to packers but only a few head of cattle were sold this way. Reasons j04 Choice o Markets Farmers were asked to give reasons for their choice of outlets or sources when selling or buying livestock. These are reported in Appendix Tables 11 and 12. Choice When Selling Livestock. The reasons for the choice of different outlets did not vary greatly. The most important reasons for choosing any outlet were convenience of the market and the feeling that a better price would be obtained. These reasons were most important for both cattle and hogs. An important reason for selling to dealers or country buyers was that livestock was picked up at the farm. Only available market was the reason frequently given for choosing auctions. Choice When Buying Livestock. There was somewhat more variation in the reasons for choice of outlets when buying livestock. However, the three most important for both cattle and hogs were (1) "had what I wanted," (2) "better selection," and (3) "convenience." In addition, an important reason for buying both cattle and hogs from other farmers was because of favorable prices. Hogs were purchased also from farmer-breeders because of the desire for purebred animals. MARKETING PRACTICES ao FARMERS Selling Methods asd Practices Proportion of Farms Selling. Based on the sample of Alabama farmers interviewed, about 4 out of 10 farmers sold cattle, including calves, and 3 out of 10 sold hogs during 1950. Only 8 per cent of the farmers reported veal calves sold (Table 4). Area differences did not vary differently from the State average, except in the Piedmont, where half of the farmers sold cattle. A higher-than-average percentage of Coastal Plain farmers sold hogs, and a noticeably lower-than-average percentage of farmers HOW ALABAMA TABLE FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 19 4. DISTRIBUTION OF FARMS SELLING LIVESTOCK BY SPECIES, AVERAGE NUMBER OF HEAD SOLD PER FARM SELLING, NUMBER OF TIMES SALES WERE MADE, AND NUMBER OF HEAD PER SALE, ALABAMA 1950 Species Farms selling Head sold .per n Sales per fr Head per calf l cll fnrm a liil al asll, All cattle Veal calves Hogs 1 Not Per cent 38 3 32 Number 6.0 5.7 16.2 Number 1.8 1 2.3 Number 8.8 1 6.9 ascertained. in the Black Belt and Piedmont areas sold hogs (Appendix Table 13). Of tenant-operated farms, about 2.5 out of 10 sold cattle and calves as well as hogs, while for farm owner-operators almost 5 out of 10 sold cattle and calves and slightly more than 3 out of 10 sold hogs. The proportion of farm owner-operators selling cattle was greater in the Black Belt and Piedmont than in other areas. On the other hand, the proportion of owners selling hogs in these areas was smaller than for other areas (Appendix Table 13). In addition, in the Piedmont and Mountain areas, a smaller percentage of owners than tenants sold hogs. Livestock Sold pe~ Farm. Farmers who marketed livestock in 1950, sold on the average 6 head of cattle, including calves, and 16 hogs. The Black Belt was the only area reporting cattle sales importantly in excess of the average, with 16 head of cattle being sold per farm. This area was characterized by the existence of large owner-operated farm units. In the Piedmont, at the other extreme, farmers sold about three head of cattle per farm. The Valley and Piney Woods areas reported sale of hogs per farm greater than the average, while the Black Belt and the Piedmont areas reported sales per farm considerably less than average (Appendix Table 14). Sale. The number of times farmers sold liveFrequency stock during 1950 is also reported in Table 4. On the average, farmers sold cattle about twice during the year and hogs a little more than twice. For cattle, farmers in the Black Belt, Piedmont, and Mountain areas reported somewhat more frequent sales than the average; for hogs, the Valley Area was slightly more than the average (Appendix Table 14). The areas of least importance, in terms of number of times hogs were sold in 1950, were the Black Belt, Piedmont, and Mountain areas. oj 20 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Size oj Lots Sold. The average number of livestock sold per lot by farmers was slightly better than three head of cattle and calves, and seven hogs. Variations by areas followed fairly closely the number of livestock sold per farm. Importance o/ Various Sizes Lots Sold. The percentage of farmers that sold livestock in lots of various sizes and the percentage of livestock marketed in each size group are shown in Figure 9 and reported by areas and market classes in Appendix Tables 15 and 16. These data show that 39 per cent of the farmers sold cattle in lots of one animal. These sales, however, accounted for only 7 per cent of the cattle sold. Almost two-thirds of the farmers in Alabama sold cattle in lots of one and two head, but these sales made up only 15 per cent of all cattle sold. Only 8 per cent of the farmers sold cattle in lots of over 10 animals, these sales comprising nearly three-fifths of all cattle sold. Of slaughter cattle, about 20 per cent of the farmers accounted for approximately 80 per cent of the sales. Almost the same situation prevailed for veal calves. About half of the farmers sold almost a fifth of the stocker and feeder cattle in lots of one animal. Over a third of the farmers sold more than a third of the stockers and feeders in lots from two to five animals. The remaining 44 per cent of this class was sold by 12 per cent of the farmers in lots of over five animals. As would be expected, a large proportion of the breeding cattle were sold in lots of one and two animals. In contrast with cattle, only 14 per cent of the farmers reported selling hogs in lots of one or two. In addition, these farmers sold only 1 per cent of all hogs sold. Roughly, one fifth of the farmers sold hogs in lots of three to five inclusive, comprising only 5 per cent of all hogs sold. One-fourth of the farmers sold in lots of 6 to 10 but sold only 18 per cent of the hogs. About fourfifths of all hogs were sold in lots of over 10 and by about twofifths of the farmers. The sale of slaughter and feeder hogs followed this pattern rather closely. For example, 88 per cent of the slaughter hogs and 72 per cent of the feeder hogs, were sold in lots of over 10 and by 46 per cent and 81 per cent of the farmers, respectively. While the sale of breeding hogs was not important, generally they were sold in smaller lots. 4o HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 21 2 The Black Belt Area showed a higher-than-average percentage of farms selling cattle in larger lots. This was also true, but to a lesser extent, of the Piney Woods and the Piedmont areas. The Piedmont also showed a higher-than-average percentage of farms selling hogs in larger lots. On the other hand, 40 per cent of the farmers in the Mountain Area sold hogs in lots of one. 0 Head per Per cent farmers selling 25 50 Per cent animals sald 0 25 50 75 --r lot CATTLE AND CALVES I ~ ,c 1.4. 39 :"; .~*7 2 25 A CATTL.U. 6 -10 * I i15 II-over ::k 8 A. 1 _ _ _9 I HOGS 2 ovt 3-5 6-10 ~ca'z, ?~ ;~ z7r Ic f;.' '2~~r 8 1 Les tan 0. pr en 25 Il - over Z es 42 hn ______________ . pr c ent FIGURE 9. Distribution of farmers selling livestock, and distribution of livestock sold by Alabama farmers in various size lots, 1950. 22 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Weights oa Livestock Sold. The average weight of cattle and calves sold by farmers in 1950 was 446 pounds, and for hogs 155 pounds. The weight of cattle sold for breeding purposes was 578 pounds, being somewhat higher than the average. However, other classes of cattle were about the same as the average (Figure 10). The average weight of hogs sold under 3 months of age was 55 pounds; from 3 to 5 months of age, 79 pounds; from 6 months to 1 year of age, 185 pounds; and over 1 year of age, 204 pounds. Hogs under 5 months of age were largely sold for feeder purposes, while hogs 6 months or older were predominantly sold for slaughter. Class: 0 200 Pounds 400 600 440 800 Slaughter Stockers and CATTLE ND 42 br ee dCALVES Dairy breeding and r: : "t All cottle 446 Under 3 mo. 35 3 to 5 mo. 6 mo.to 1 year Over I year 79 5, '204 0 100 300 200 Pounds 400 FIGURE 10. Average weights of cattle and hogs by market class or age group sold by Alabama farmers, 1950. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 23 Variations in weights of livestock sold by age and market class as well as by areas are presented in Appendix Tables 17 and 18. Of slaughter cattle sold heavier-than-average weights were reported in the Mountain Area, while lighter-than-average weights were reported in both the Valley and Piedmont areas. However, the Valley Area reported heavier-than-average weights of stocker and feeder cattle sold. Weights of stocker and feeder cattle sold in both the Black Belt and Piedmont areas were considerably less than average. These were the more important variations in cattle weights reported. Of slaughter hogs sold in the 6 months to 1-year-age group, heavier-than-average weights were reported in the Valley Area. Weights of slaughter hogs in this area averaged 198 pounds as compared to the State average of 185 pounds. Lighter-than-average weights were reported in both the Mountain and Black Belt areas. These variations were also characteristic of hogs sold under 3 months of age. Basis a Selling. Livestock was sold in Alabama on both a head and weight basis, though selling on the basis of weight was considerably more common. For the year 1950, Alabama farmers reported selling about a fifth of their cattle and calves, and a third of their hogs on a head basis (Figure 11). Slaughter animals, both cattle and hogs, were less commonly sold on a head basis than were stocker, feeder, and breeding animals. Only about one-tenth of the slaughter cattle and one-seventh of the slaughter hogs were sold by the head. On the other hand, almost one-half of the stocker and feeder cattle and almost three-quarters of the feeder hogs were sold by the head. Dairy and breeding cattle were most commonly sold by the head. Relatively small amounts of cattle were sold on a head basis in the Black Belt in 1950, and for the most part these were stockers and feeders (Appendix Table 19). The Piedmont was the only area in which slaughter cattle were predominantly sold by the head. However, stocker and feeder cattle were commonly sold on a head basis in the Valley, Piney Woods, and Mountain areas. With the exception of the Black Belt, dairy and breeding animals were reported sold altogether on a head basis. For the most part, feeder hogs were sold on a head basis in all areas and to a greater extent in the Mountain and Valley areas. The only area above the State average for slaughter hogs sold on a head basis was the Valley Area. 24 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 24C ALABAMA AGRICULTURLEPRMN Per cent sol d TTO Class: Slaughter (except veal) Veal calves 0) ,; 20 40 60 80 100 "Xr - :).3 ~~pt E}. ":%_ ;,. 2 W A.. CATTLE AND PeI CALVES - Stockers and feeders Dairy Breeding All cattle I48 . , : ' i-i,:.."r r;'Y ?."ti+,-_ , .'a t'.y ."J.'t 'r" " , :i .rii. :1"Y.i".fi,;t : - h; Jjr' ,'"'" t," .+ 1X.+ A;,X".F' ", . " 4j'!( ... r. ;-i1. " . .,,Q, J f. l t "1( Jf,"(1s" (" Y ' !Y n ii .. ' . . i."' y: .;. . tti '".ty'yJN: "ay;SC.1ji '% ;J'4yr ."' 14'rR. gM r:. a"":i y., :tc :ys _tt.: . " : l<" ±y=i.Sti ? r. ."if,'' :,"'til:' ',Vif" ::I..iss kj r,''" _ {1.t, " " " "ti:. %a.., 76 ... ._ : .a t° ^. r k"s!+r: +.c.'.i9..C;; >._ _y::iti 1Z'i:_.. .:!ri " : :: '.,."_%..I..:iJ 2.,_. ._'. / >.i,_ R.._ .w :a:t 84 20 1 1 1 1 Slaughter Feeder Breeding All hogs FIGURE 11. Distribution of livestock sold by Alabama farmers on a head basis by market classes, 1950. being sold on a head basis The reason for much of the is due to lack of weighing facilities. On the other hand, many farmers regarded themselves as capable as the buyers in judging animals. The limited number of animals sold per farm and the infrequency of sales, in many cases, would seem to make such judgment questionable. Place 4~ Sale. Fifteen per cent of the cattle and calves and 29 per cent of the hogs were reported sold at the farm in 1950 livestock er 76 HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 25 (Figure 12). Selling at the farm and selling by the head were closely associated factors, since it seems probable that most livestock sold at the farm would be by the head. More stocker and feeder cattle and feeder hogs were sold at the farm than were slaughter animals. Almost a third of the stocker and feeder cattle were sold at the farm, while 9 per cent of the slaughter cattle were sold in this manner. About two-thirds of the feeder hogs, but only 13 per cent of the slaughter hogs were sold at the farm. Dairy cattle and breeding animals, and breeding hogs, were largely sold at the farm. This was to be expected since these classes, along with feeder animals, were rather commonly sold to other farmers. Per cent sold Class" Slaughter 0 9 20 40 60 80 100 (except veal) 9CATTLE 21 Zj;: ' ' calves Veal calves Stockers and feeders Dairy and AND CALVES 29 6 breeding Slaughter 1 HOGS Breeding 54 FIGURE 12. Distribution of livestock sold at the farm by Alabama farmers by market classes, 1950. 26 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION The association of selling at the farm and selling on a head basis did not vary within the State. In the Piedmont, where cattle were commonly sold by the head, most of the cattle were reported sold at the farm in 1950. On the other hand, very few cattle were sold at the farm in the Black Belt. As reported earlier for this area, very few animals were sold by the head. Other area variations can be seen in Appendix Table 20. Slaughter hogs were not sold in important numbers at the farm in any area, but just the reverse was true of feeder hogs. With the exception of the Black Belt and the Piney Woods areas, feeder hogs were largely sold at the farm. Relationship o Livestock Sales to Various Factors Type of Market Used. The data in Table 5 show the extent to which farmers used various types of markets when selling livestock in different amounts. In selling cattle in amounts of one or two animals, there was a tendency to rely heavily on such outlets as the country buyer, local dealer, and other farmers. However, as larger numbers of cattle were sold, more use was made of the auction. For example, 95 per cent of the cattle sold by farmers in lots exceeding 10 animals were sold through auctions. The relationship of number per lot of hogs sold to type of market used was somewhat different. Undoubtedly, this was due to the fact that feeder animals made up a larger percentage of all hogs sold than of all cattle sold. However, it appears that as larger numbers of hogs were sold, there was greater use of auctions. Of hogs marketed in lots of one to five, 46 per cent were sold through auctions; while, of hogs sold in lots exceeding 23 animals, 60 per cent were sold through auctions. As was true of cattle, farmers and country buyers were depended upon quite heavily when hogs were sold in smaller lots. However, along with local dealers, these agencies appeared to handle greater numbers of hogs sold in larger lots than they did in the case of cattle. Sellers of small lots of cattle and hogs apparently are more susceptible to trader manipulation than sellers of larger lots, since they depended less on the competitive auction markets. On the other hand, the expense and trouble of moving small lots to market may justify sales at the farm. Other relationships to livestock sales may be noted in Table 6. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK TABLE 27 5. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK SOLD BY SPECIES BY ALABAMA FARMERS AND TYPE OF MARKET USED, 1950 Species & Farms Head no. sold rpt'g. sold Auction ere sold Farm- Country Local Termers buyers dealer inal Packers Local butcher No. CATTLE AND CALVES No. 92 Pct. 28 Pct. 29 Pct. 29 Pct. 18 Pct. 1 Pct. 0 Pct. 0 1 92 2 3-5 6-10 57 39 25 114 152 209 41 61 54 19 13 4 19 20 3 13 5 21 5 0 4 1 1 9 2 0 5 Above 10 ALL CATTLE 20 233 824 1,391 95 76 0 6 0 6 0 5 5 5 0 1 0 1 HOGS 1-4 5-11 12-23 Above 23 1 58 57 44 36 145 451 708 1,856 3,160 per cent. 46 45 54 60 57 33 19 14 18 17 13 10 12 6 8 2 20 10 9 10 2 0 2 0 1 8 5 8 7 7 1 1 0 0 ALL HOGS 195 xLess than 0.5 Livestock Bought. The relationship of the number of livestock bought to the number sold was also direct and in increasing proportion. This was true for both cattle and hogs. As the average size of lots of cattle sold increased from 1.0 to 41.2 animals, the average size of purchase increased from 0.1 to 32.9 animals. Similarly, as the average size of lots of hogs sold increased from 2.5 to 73.4 animals, the average size of purchase increased from 0.7 to 38.8 animals. Other Livestock Sold. Farmers who marketed livestock in Alabama during 1950, for the most part, sold both cattle and hogs in increasing amounts of both. Those farmers who sold 1 head of cattle averaged selling 3.2 head of hogs, those selling from 3 to 6 head of cattle averaged selling 14.8 head of hogs, and those selling cattle in excess of 10 animals averaged selling 26.9 head of hogs. The relationship was as direct when the number of hogs sold per farm was used as the dependent variable. For example, those farmers who sold hogs in amounts of 1 to 5 head averaged selling 1.1 head of cattle, and those farmers who reported selling hogs in excess of 40 animals sold on the average 11.9 head of cattle (Table 6). This close relationship between sales of different species of livestock may be associated with size of business. That is, in all 28 TABLE 6. RELATIONSHIP ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BETWEEN NUMBER OF HEAD OF LIVESTOCK SOLD BY ALABAMA FARMERS, AND RELATED FACTORS INCLUDING METHODS OF SELLING, 1950 Head sold Average Range No. 1 No. 1 Cattle Cattle sold Hogs Cattle Farms rpt'g. bought sold on head basis Number Number Number Per cent 92 0.1 3.2 78 Cattle sold at farm Per cent 68 2 3-5 6-10 Above 10 2 8.9 8.4 41.2 57 39 25 20 0.8 2.9 8.5 32.9 5.8 14.8 18.4 26.9 68 45 22 8 58 34 19 0 Head sold Range Average 1-4 5-11 12-23 24-40 Above 40 2.5 7.9 16.1 29.7 73.4 Hogs Hogs sold Cattle Hogs Farms rpt'g. bought sold on head basis Per cent Number Number Number 58 0.7 1.1 57 1.6 89 57 1.4 44 18 18 3.4 5.6 88.8 2.4 7.9 11.9 25 21 85 Hogs sold at farm Per cent 48 41 26 20 28 probability the greatest amounts of both cattle and hogs were sold by large farms, with the reverse being true on small farms. Basis o~ Sale and Place oj Sale. Farmers who sold livestock in small lots, particularly cattle, generally sold them on a head basis and at the farm, while larger lots were sold largely by weight and at the market. Of cattle sold in lots of one, 73 per cent were sold by the head and 68 per cent were sold at the farm. However, as size of lots increased, these percentages decreased sharply. Farmers who sold cattle in lots exceeding 10 animals reported selling only 3 per cent by the head and none at the farm. Of hogs sold in lots up to five animals, 57 per cent were sold by the head and 48 per cent at the farm. While the decrease was not as sharp as for cattle, the amount sold by the head and at the farm showed a large decrease as size of lots sold increased (Table 6). Buying Methods and Practices Proportion a Farms Buying. Based on the sample, approximately 1 out of 6 Alabama farmers bought both cattle and hogs in 1950 (Table 7). Noticeable area differences from the average were the Coastal Plain, where only 8 per cent of the farmers bought cattle, and the Mountain Area where 31 per cent bought cattle. Areas that showed differences in the proportion of farmers HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 29 TABLE 7. DISTRIBUTION OF FARMS BUYING LIVESTOCK, AVERAGE NUMBER OF HEAD BOUGHT PER FARM BUYING, NUMBER OF TIMES PURCHASES WERE MADE, AND NUMBER OF HEAD PER PURCHASE, BY SPECIES, ALABAMA, 1950 Species Farms buying Head bought per farm Purchases per farm Head per purchase Cattle and calves Hogs Per cent 17 17 Number 9.9 11.8 Number 8.1 2.2 Number 8.2 5.8 who bought hogs were the Black Belt, Piedmont, and Mountain, all of which were considerably below the average (Appendix Table 21). About 1 out of 5 farm owners bought cattle as compared to 1 out of 12 tenant operators. However, tenure did not appear to be a factor in proportion of farmers buying hogs. About 1 out of 5 owners bought hogs and about 1 out of 6 tenants bought hogs. Livestock Bought pea Farm. Farmers who bought livestock in 1950 averaged buying about 10 head of cattle and 12 head of hogs. There was considerable variation between areas, with cattle and hog purchases ranging from 3.9 and 1.3 head, respectively, in the Piedmont, to 31.0 and 33.5 head, respectively, in the Black Belt. Frequency ao Purchase r~sd Size of Lots Purchased. On the average, farmers bought cattle three times and hogs about twice during 1950 (Table 7). For cattle, the Black Belt, Mountain, and Piney Woods areas were above the average; for hogs, the Black Belt, Mountain, and Coastal Plain were above the average (Appendix Table 22). The average number of livestock bought per lot by farmers was slightly more than three head of cattle and five head of hogs. Area variations were not greatly different from the average numbers purchased per farm. Basis of Purchase. Livestock were bought, for the most part, on a weight rather than on a head basis by Alabama farmers in 1950, although there was considerable variation among classes. Thirty per cent of all cattle and 45 per cent of all hogs were bought on a head basis (Figure 13). Dairy and breeding cattle and breeding hogs were most commonly bought by the head. Of stocker and feeder cattle, only 13 per cent were bought by the head, but 42 per cent of the feeder pigs and hogs were bought on a head basis. 30 30 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ALABAMAl AGRICULTURLEPRMN Per cent 40 bought 60 TTO 0 Stockers and feeders ·,: .. ! 13 F CATTLE' AND I ,.. ;: a vv I 20 80 100 CALVES i... .... !,, ",, . I I .- .,,.. .9 . i, . *, . ., .... ,,, .i' 7 . K , Dairy d I Breeding I i I ..... 63 ~ 30 Breeding All hogs r FIGURE 13. Distribution of livestock bought by Alabama farmers on a head basis by market classes, 1950. It was reported earlier that about one-half of the stocker and feeder cattle and three-fourths of the feeder hogs were sold on a head basis. Although there may have been different outlets used for buying and selling, evidently farmers would rather buy this class of livestock on a weight basis in preference to selling it on a weight basis. Area variations did not appear important, except for stocker and feeder animals. Only a small number of stocker and feeder cattle were bought by the head in the Black Belt and Coastal Plain, but in the Valley and Piedmont areas almost half of these animals were bought by the head (Appendix Table 23). Farmers in the Piedmont, Mountain, and Valley areas bought feeder hogs principally by the head, while farmers in the Coastal Plain, Black Belt, and Piney Woods bought feeder hogs principally by weight. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 31 SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS The increased importance of livestock production and income in Alabama has emphasized the need for greater attention to buying and selling practices of farmers and marketing outlets used by farmers. The present study on marketing practices of farmers is the first in a series of livestock marketing problems. Data were obtained for the year 1950 on the basis of an area sampling plan designed at North Carolina State College. In all, 606 farmers were interviewed of whom 52 per cent sold livestock in 1950. Slaughter animals, both cattle and hogs, were by far the most important class of livestock sold. Feeder animals made up a larger proportion of hogs sold, however, than of cattle. If, as it appears, livestock production is principally for slaughter, Alabama farmers may gain by keeping this objective in mind in their feeding and grazing as well as their buying and selling programs. Nationally, marketings of feeder hogs are of relatively little importance as compared to slaughter hogs or as compared to marketings of feeder cattle. In Alabama, however, 80 per cent of the hogs sold were feeders in 1950. Most of the cattle and calves sold were under 1 year of age and most hogs sold were between the ages of 6 months and 1 year. This indicates that in 1950 cattle growers put greatest emphasis on calf production for sale. It probably reflects, also, cattle production based principally on a grass economy. Most of the livestock bought, both cattle and hogs, were stockers and feeders. Purchases of breeding animals, however, were relatively more important for cattle than for hogs. More farmers sold cattle than hogs, but the number of hogs sold was more than twice the number of cattle sold. About the same number of farmers bought cattle and hogs and the number of animals bought was not greatly different. The number of farmers who sold livestock in 1950 was much greater than the number who bought, and the amount of livestock sold was greater than the amount bought. However, for stocker, feeder, and breeding cattle, there was a much greater amount bought than sold, indicating a sizeable cattle herd build-up in 1950. 32 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Largest seasonal increases in cattle marketings occurred in October, November, and December. The same period was also most important for hogs, with a minor seasonal increase in March, April, and May. The peak in cattle sales corresponded very closely with the national to-market movement of grass cattle, but the peak in hog sales preceded the national fall peak by about a month. Thus, Alabama farmers have an opportunity to press an advantage in selling at possibly better prices than would result after the heavier national movement begins. In 1950, there were two distinct peaks in the sale of feeder hogs, which indicates that efficient hog producers may gain by feeding out two pig crops for the market. Auctions were, by far, the most important single outlet used by Alabama farmers in the sale of their livestock, both in terms of the amount of livestock sold and the number of farmers using them. However, dairy and breeding cattle and feeder and breeding hogs were most commonly sold to other farmers or country buyers. Auctions, in general, gave satisfactory service to livestock producers in 1950, although a greater proportion of the cattle was sold through auctions than of hogs. It would appear that traders bought a fairly large percentage of the hogs. The market outlets used by farmers in selling livestock were, for the most part, those used by farmers when livestock was bought, although their relative importance was somewhat changed. Stocker and feeder cattle of the desired quantity, age, weight, and quality were evidently found principally at auctions and terminal markets, since small amounts were bought from farmers and traders. Feeder pigs, however, were generally obtained from other farmers. Almost all of the livestock sold by Alabama farmers was moved to market by truck, usually in the farmers' trucks, and no more than 15 miles away in most cases. It is not surprising, then, that the most important reason given for choosing a marketing outlet, either for selling or buying, was convenience of the market. Of course, it would seem that the choice of any marketing outlet should not be made for the sake of convenience alone. Perhaps selling outlets are "too convenient" for the farmer. Many times the existence of a large number of small market outlets, particularly auctions, has had the effect of dividing buying competition too thinly, resulting in prices being lower than they might have been otherwise. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 33 About 4 out of 10 farmers sold cattle, including calves, and 3 out of 10 sold hogs during 1950. Those selling, sold on the average, 6 head of cattle and calves and 16 hogs. They sold livestock about twice during the year. Of the farmers selling cattle, 39 per cent sold in lots of one animal, but the number accounted for only 7 per cent of the cattle sold. Only 8 per cent of the farmers sold cattle in lots of over 10 animals. These sales, however, comprised nearly three-fifths of all cattle sold. In contrast with cattle, only 14 per cent of the farmers reported selling hogs in lots of one or two, which accounted for only 1 per cent of all hogs sold. On the other hand, about two-fifths of the farmers sold about four-fifths of all hogs, marketing in lots of over 10 animals. In all, almost two-thirds of those farmers selling cattle and roughly one-third of those selling hogs in 1950 sold in relatively small lots. This situation illustrates rather well a serious problem in marketing livestock, particularly cattle. The average weight of cattle and calves sold by farmers in 1950 was 446 pounds and for hogs, 155 pounds. Hogs from 6 months to 1 year of age averaged 185 pounds in weight. Other than dairy or breeding cattle, there was little variation in the average weights of cattle sold, which further indicates that production was not geared to feeding beyond the calf or short yearling stage. Most livestock, both cattle and hogs, were sold on a weight basis and at the market. Stocker, feeder, and breeding livestock, however, were commonly sold by the head and at the farm. Probably, much of the livestock sold on a head basis is due to a lack of scales. Many farmers, however, willingly sell on a head basis, since they believe themselves to be as capable of judging animals as buyers. The infrequency of sales and the small number sold per farm as contrasted to the every-day operations of livestock buyers would seem to contradict this. Generally, when small amounts of livestock were sold, that is, one or two head of cattle or up to four head of hogs, particularly feeder pigs, they were sold by the head and at the farm. In addition, outlets for these small lots were quite likely to be country buyers, local dealers, and other farmers. On the other hand, auctions were relied on heavily when relatively larger lots of livestock were sold. In many cases sellers of small lots of livestock must rely on country buyers or other traders. Often there is little to be gained in moving these animals to a competitive 34 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION market when the quality of the animals, and the trouble and expense of moving them are considered. Largest amounts of livestock were bought by those farmers who sold in largest amounts. In addition, those farmers who sold livestock in 1950, sold both cattle and hogs in largest amounts of both. Here, the size of the farming operation appears to be an influencing factor. Approximately 1 out of 6 Alabama farmers bought both cattle and hogs in 1950. Farmers who bought livestock averaged buying about 10 head of cattle and 12 head of hogs. On the average, purchases of cattle were made three times and purchases of hogs about twice during the year. Livestock were bought principally on a weight basis. However, purchases of hogs on a head basis were relatively greater than for cattle because large amounts of feeder pigs were bought by the head. A larger proportion of farmers sold stocker and feeder livestock, including feeder hogs, on a head basis than bought these classes on a head basis. Nevertheless, it would appear to be just as important, regardless of the outlet or source used, to sell as well as buy stocker and feeder or slaughter animals on a weight basis. When animals are sold or bought by weight, buyers and sellers are on a comparable basis. If, however, the transaction is on a head basis, the weight determination may be in favor of the buyer. Obviously, it is not always possible nor practicable to sell by weight. APPENDIX 36 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION APPENDIX TABLE 1. PERCENTAGES OF CATTLE AND CALVES SOLD ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES BY ALABAMA FARMERS, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE Slaughter (not veal) Percent 41 77 94 73 46 92 75 Veal calves Percent 31 1 0 0 38 0 9 Stockers and Dairy and breeding feeders Per cent 22 11 3 18 12 3 Per cent 6 11 3 9 4 5 6 Per cent 23 26 34 6 4 7 100 10 APPENDIX TABLE 2. PERCENTAGES OF HOGS SOLD ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES BY ALABAMA FARMERS, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE Slaughter Per cent 52 83 33 82 0 83 69 Feeder Per cent 46 17 61 18 98 17 30 Breeding Per cent 2 6 0 2 0 1 Total Per cent 34 45 4 11 2 4 100 HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 37 APPENDIX TABLE 3. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY SOLD BY ALABAMA FARMERS, BY AREAS AND SPECIES, AGE GROUPS OF LIVESTOCK 1950 Area Under 6 months Per cent 6 months to 1 year Per cent 39 88 83 24 20 15 51 38-5 months Per cent 20 5 17 1 71 0 11 1-2 years Per cent 6 33 8 16 12 14 18 6 months 1 year Per cent 47 72 48 92 0 83 64 Over 2 years Per cent 8 20 8 48 28 68 19 Over 1 year Per cent 8 16 5 7 0 0 9 CATTLE AND CALVES Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 47 9 6 12 40 3 17 8Under Smonthsto Per cent Area SLAUGHTER AND FEEDER HOGS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 30 7 30 0 29 17 16 APPENDIX TABLE 4. PERCENTAGES OF LIVESTOCK BOUGHT BY ALABAMA FARMERS ACCORDING TO CLASSES AND SPECIES. BY AREAS, 1950 Area Area CATTLE AND CALVES Slaughter Slaughter Per cent Stockers and feeders Per cent 58 79 81 46 56 55 69 Feeders Per cent 86 91 97 95 75 100 90 Dairy and breeding Per cent 39 20 19 38 44 37 28 Breeding Per cent 11 6 8 5 25 0 7 All cattle Per cent 21 25 33 6 3 12 100 All hogs Per cent 21 61 6 11 1 100 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 3 1 0 16 0 8 3 Area HOGS Slaughter Per cent 8 3 0 0 0 0 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 3 38 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION APPENDIX TABLE 5. RELATIVE NUMBERS OF LIVESTOCK SOLD AND BOUGHT BY ALABAMA FARMERS INTERVIEWED ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Area All cattle Stockers and feeders Dairy and breeding Sold Bgt. Sold Bgt. sold oldl sold SoldsB Bgt. Sold Bgt. Bgt./Sold No. No. Pct. No. 19 41 12 8 2 5 87 No. 86 53 66 24 12 46 287 Pct. 453 129 550 300 600 920 330 No. 315 360 473 89 50 104 1,391 No. 218 262 341 63 27 123 1,034 Pct. 69 73 72 71 54 118 74 CATTLE AND CALVES Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 70 38 12 16 6 3 145 126 180 545 207 275 2,292 181 29 15 250 67 2,233 719 496 Area Feeder hogs Sold Bgt. Bgt./ No. No. 214 645 65 127 3 12 Pct. 43 270 75 195 7 55 112 Breeding Sold No. 20 6 8 0 1 0 35 Bgt. No. 28 43 2 6 1 0 80 B Pct. Sold No. All hogs Bgt. No. 249 712 67 133 4 12 Bg Pct. 23 50 47 37 9 9 87 HOGS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 498 239 87 65 45 22 140 1,072 717 1,412 25 142 100 0 361 46 127 956 1,066 229 3,160 1,177 0 a APPENDIX TABLE 6. PERCENTAGES OF LIVESTOCK SOLD BY ALABAMA FARMERS BY MONTHS ACCORDING TO AGE GROUPS, CLASSES, AND SPECIES, 1950 MARKET Age AeadcasJan. CATTLE AND CALVES nd Pct. cassMonth Mar. Feb. Pct. 4 5 5 0 1 3 4 6 4 0 0 5 7 Pct. 4 4 5 5 1 4 5 1 8 11 3 8 7 Apr. Pct. 5 7 4 8 4 6 1 2 10 18 12 8 1 r May Pct. 9 9 5 29 8 10 7 13 7 23 9 4 5 u June Pct. 5 6 6 1 3 5 8 0 6 11 2 6 2 v of sale July Pct. 11 10 11 10 10 11 10 10 8 4 25 6 3 Aug. Pct. 11 15 13 5 7 10 25 6 7 6 13 7 4 Sept. Pct. 9 10 9 12 7 9 6 16 13 8 9 14 22 Oct. Pct. 14 12 19 7 8 14 14 14 13 14 2 14 19 Nov. Pct. 10 6 13 12 7 11 5 10 10 2 8 12 13 Dec. Pct. 14 12 6 10 40 13 14 19 a r~In a. a m a 1H All cattle Under 6 mo. 4 4 4 1 4 4 1 3 1w 6 mo.-1 year 1-2 years Over 2 years Slaughter Stockers and feeders - 0 I-l Breeding HOGS All bogs Under 3 mo. 3-5 months 6 mo.-1 year Over 1 year .rrv .r u vi;~ 'I 0 5 0 9 6 4 3 8 10 13 w 40 40 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION APPENDIX TABLE 7. PERCENTAGES OF CATTLE AND CALVES SOLD BY ALABAMA FARMERS AcCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES THROUGH SPECIFIED MARKET OUTLETS, BY AREAS, 1950 Ara Area Head sold' No. Auctions Pct. 67 61 98 92 - Where sold Farm- Country Local Term'l Packer Local ers buyers dealers market butcher Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. 9 3 -- SLAUGHTER CATTLE (NOT VEAL) 8 5 -- Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE VEAL CALVES 128 278 449 65 23 96 1,039 98 8 19 10 6 -- -- 19 2 2 4 6 39 81 80 94 100 79 63 55 75 94 100 6 3 1 - 2 4 8 53 57' - -- -- 1 4 2 47 6 2 1 Valley Coastal Plain Piedmont STATE STOCKE~RS ANDFEEDERS - ii --- 120 70 38 12 16 6 1 11 10 17 6 11 17 16 - 9 9 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont -_ -- 8 8 11 -- Mountain STATE DAIRY AND BREEDING 3 145 19 41 12 __100 66 10 37 12 92 14 21 7 3 -- Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 42 61 8 20 -20 10 7 8 8 2 100 5 87 315 360 473 89 50 104 1,391 _ 36 -- -__ 100 40 40 9 10 1 2 2 7 6 40 14 9 6 5 42 8 6 ALL CATTLE AND CALVES Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 73 55 98. 93 12 75 76 16 1 4 - 44 1 5 5 1 1 'Number of animals for sample only. HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 41 4 APPENDIX TABLE 8. PERCENTAGES OF HOGS SOLD BY ALABAMA FARMERS ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES THROUGH SPECIFIED MARKET OUTLETS, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Head Where tions Pct. Auc- sold sold, Farm- Country Local Term'l No. SLAUGHTER ers Pct. buyers dealers market Pct. Pct. Pct. 6 4 --- Local Packer butcher Pct. 16 11 5 11 Pct. Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE FEEDER 554 1,167 47 296 0 105 2,169 498 239 67 64 94 92 77 69 13 33 [0 1 6 1 1 19 --- 1 2 1 - 2 2 4 67 35 19 4 14 23 11 6 9 2 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE BREEDING - - 87 65 45 22 66 94 11 6-_ 16 38 82 18 7 62 9 __ 27 18 - 956 20 6 8 1 46 75 83 __ Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piedmont STATE ALL HOGS 20 17 __ 5 __ __ 100 - - -- 100 _ - - 35 37 57 6 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 1,072 1,412 142 41 58 77 92 __ 38 7 9 2 _ 9 7 10 2 4 17 4 63 _ 1 __ 8 10 -4 --- 2 361 42 127 3,160 46 64 4 37 30 __ -1 57 17 8 10 7 2 'Lethan Number of animals for sample only. 0.5 per cent. 42 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT 42 ALABAMA AGRICULTUA XEIMN STATION TTO APPENDIX TABLE 9. PERCENTAGES OF CATTLE AND CALVES BOUGHT BY ALABAMA FARMERS ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES THROUGH SPECIFIED MARKET OUTLETS, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Head bought No. Auction Pct. 83 100 54 79 95 62 79 Farmers Where bought Country Local buyers dealers Pct. Pct. Pct. 17 Terminal market Pct. SLAUGHTER Valley Coastal Plain Piney Woods Mountain STATE 6 2 10 10 28 126 207 275 29 100 100 43 9 5 221 __ 3- STOCKERS AND F ESEDERS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE BREEDING 1 9 2 36' __ -- 15 67 60 99 78 27 1 6 13 _ 719 5 86 __ -14 2 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 53 66 86 31 19 48 32 16 13 __ -- 80 20 24 12 46 287 38 17 83 48 62 25 6 32 __ 8 9 10 __ 50 2 10 ALL CATTLE AN] DCALVES Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 218 262 61 79 65 24 11 6 2 7 ---- 12 2 1 29 841 63 27 123 51 41 93 49____ 25 3 14 4 3 3 30 1 4 SNumber 1,034 69 of animals for sample only. 10 HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 43 4 APPENDIX TABLE 10. PERCENTAGES OF HOGS BOUGHT BY ALABAMA FARMERS ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES THROUGH SPECIFIED MARKET OUTLETS, BY AREAS, 1950 AraHead bought' Ara No. SLAUGHTER Auction Per cent Where bought Farmers Country buyers Per cent Per cent 100 Local dealers Per cent 17 Valley Coastal Plain STATE FEEDERS 7 24 8310_ 31 214 645 65 65 36 64 88 22_13 54 31-5 12 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE BREEDING 3 7 127 3 12 80 -- 20 100 100 - __ 1,066 28 43 2 6 61 7 28 100 34 82 56 66 1 4 11 16 17 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE ALL HOGS --- 1 --100 17 -__- 80 249 712 67 133 4 20 82 63 88 77 65 58 31 12-21 100 1 3 -- 14 7 6 1 5 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 1'Number -- 1 -- 12 -- 100 1,177 58 of animals for sample only. 36 1 44 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 4. APPENDIX TABLE 11. REASONS GIVEN BY ALABAMA FARMERS FOR SELLING LIVESTOCK AT VARIOUS TYPES OF MARKETS, BY SPECIES, 1950 Reason Auction Dealer Farmer Term- No. CATTLE AND CALVES No. 35 21 11 26 No. 10 13 17 2 inal No. 2 3 1 -- Packer No. Local butcher outlets No. No. ----- All Convenience Better price No reason Pickup service Confidence in market Only market More buyers Obligations Custom No selling charges Miscellaneous ALL REPLIES 41 49 10 -- F90 88 40 29 15 12 4 2 2 9 12 4 2 --- 5 ----- 1 ---- -_ ---- No5----- 2 -- 1 127 35 43 8 101 -3 8 3 2 45 9 14 4 31 - 1 9 _ 1 1 -- 1 7 5 6 1 1 1 99 13 11 3 41 - 1 1 1 2 --- 288 63 76 19 15 HOGS Convenience Better Price No reason Pickup service Confidence in market Only market More buyers Obligations Custom No selling charges ALL REPLIES 11 3 11 2 --- 9 -- 5 9 3 1 1 -- 13- -- -- 12 232 -- 2 HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK APPENDIX TABLE 12. 45 REASONS GIVEN BY ALABAMA FARMERS FOR BUYING LIVE- STOCK AT VARIOUS TYPES OF MARKETS, BY SPECIES, 1950 Reason CATTLE AND CALVES Auction Number 12 13 7 2 4 Dealer Number Farmer Number 12 13 9 6 8 1 4 3 All outlets Number 31 29 19 14 10 6 5 5 4 2 2 127 21 14 22 3 8 6 3 8 Had what I wanted Better selection Convenience No reason Prices favorable Only market Freedom from disease Needed to buy Purebred Delivery service Confidence in market ALL REPLIES 1 1 1 I 41 3 6 8 1 1 5 S _ 1 1 26 7 1 2 1 1 1 . 3 1 _. 60 11 7 12 1 6 1 2 3 HOGS Had what I wanted Better selection Convenience No reason Prices favorable Only market Freedom from disease Needed to buy Purebred ALL REPLIES r~ur- uuru ~uur. _ 1 8 9 24 14 51 89 APPENDIX TABLE 13. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF FARMS SELLING LIVESTOCK, BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, AREAS AND SPECIES, ALABAMA, 1950 FarmsFarms selling livestock Area Farms in sample Owner Tenant Owner All cattle Pct. 43 46 60 88 53 40 45 Veal calves Pct. 11 1 0 0 11 0 4 H Hogs Tenant All ttle caetl Pct. 20 28 24 14 46 44 26 Veal calves Pct. 5 0 0 0 8 0 2 Hl Hgs All farms Pct. 23 37 18 14 23 33 28 atte catl Pct. 85 89 41 35 50 41 38 Veal cle clvs Total Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE No. 120 136 85 48 19 30 388 No. 65 86 88 7 13 9 218 No. 185 222 73 55 82 39 606 Pct. 31 44 26 88 16 23 35 Pct. 9 1 0 0 9 0 3 og Pct. 28 41 22 85 19 26 82 is. 0 APPENDIX TABLE 14. AVERAGE NUMBER OF HEAD SOLD PER FARM SELLING LIVESTOCK, NUMBER OF TIMES SALES WERE MADE, AND NUMBER OF HEAD PER SALE, BY SPECIES AND AREAS, ALABAMA, 1950 c Area Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE All cattle No. 4.8 4.1 15.8 4.7 8.1 6.5 Av. head sold per farm Calves No. 6.1 1.5 0 0 6.3 0 5.7 Hogs No. 20.6 15.3 8.9 19.0 7.7 12.7 16.2 Av. sales per farm All cattle Hogs No. 1.8 1.4 2.4 1.7 2.3 2.3 1.8 No. 2.7 2.4 1.7 2.2 1.8 1.4 2.3 Av. head per sale per farm All cattle Hogs No. 2.6 2.9 6.7 2.7 1.4 2.9 3.3 No. 7.7 6.4 5.3 8.8 4.2 9.1 6.9 m x z U, m m -1 -1 6.0 z HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY 'and SELL LIVESTOCK 47 APPENDIX TABLE 15. PERCENTAGES OF ALABAMA FARMERS SELLING AND PERCENTAGES OF CATTLE SOLD FROM FARMS MARKETING SPECIFIED NUMBERS PER FARM, BY AREAS AND MARKET CLASSES, 1950 Farms selling and animals sold byArea Lots of 8-5 Lots of 6-10 Lots over 10 Lots of 2 Lots of 1 AniAniAniAniAniFarms Anls Farms Anls Farms Anls Farms AalsFarms ma Pct. Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE VEAL CALVES Pct. 9 6 2 5 22 3 5 6 33 0 6 Pct. Pct. 12 32 17 27 64 20 28 5 13 2 12 78 4 7 Pct. 19 23 4 27 0 20 17 Pct. 14 17 1 23 0 8 9 12 0 21 13 Pct. 15 12 0 20 0 10 10 12 0 67 19 Pct. 30 20 0 43 0 11 13 Pct. 8 5 35 6 0 20 11 Pct. 42 44 95 17 0 74 66 62 0 0 50 SLAUGHTER CATTLE (OTHER THAN VEAL) 46 28 44 20 36 30 34 38 50 0 33 Valley Coastal Plain Piedmont STATE 25 50 0 24 8 67 0 8 19 0 33 19 12 0 79 23 6 0 0 5 STOCKERS AND FEEDERS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE DAIRY AND BREEDING 50 56 57 33 0 50 51 16 24 33 6 0 33 18 37 46 17 0 100 60 38 8 10 3 4 10 7 7 23 12 29 0 0 50 20 25 8 0 0 0 25 12 20 27 23 21 38 25 25 14 11 33 0 0 67 14 32 10 0 0 0 40 14 8 13 3 9 24 8 8 18 19 14 33 0 0 17 17 19 0 0 0 0 15 22 17 7 27 6 12 17 19 34 34 31 0 0 24 31 44 0 0 0 0 27 16 17 2 23 6 8 11 0 13 0 34 100 0 8 0 0 33 100 0 0 4 9 10 0 26 25 6 11 0 31 0 63 100 0 19 0 0 83 100 0 0 21 15 21 0 52 60 9 15 9 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 5 27 5 0 13 8 51 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 53 39 92 12 0 68 59 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE ALL CATTLE 58 73 67 0 100 75 69 41 41 43 21 31 44 39 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 48 APPENDIX TABLE 16. ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION PERCENTAGES OF ALABAMA FARMERS SELLING AND PER- CENTAGES OF HOGS SOLD FROM FARMS MARKETING SPECIFIED NUMBERS PER FARM, BY AREAS AND MARKET CLASSES, 1950 Area Lots of 1 Farms Animals Pct. Pct. 10 8 11 7 0 88 10 4 14 0 0 0 83 8 14 75 0 100 43 8 Farms selling and animals sold byLots of 2 Lots of 8-5 Lots of 6-10 Lots over 10 Ani- Farms AniFarms Ani- Farms Anirms eals als Farm als Fams mals Far Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pct. Pet. Pct. 0 6 22 0 0 0 5 4 3 9 0 0 0 4 57 25 0 0 86 2 SLAUGHTER HOGS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE FEEDER HOGS 1 2 0 8 1 .. 2 0 0 0 5 1 5 67 0 100 17 .. 0 1 8 0 0 0 1 _ 1 3 0 0 0 1 40 33 0 0 29 -_ 6 20 45 18 0 25 18 21 81 46 25 17 33 29 14 0 0 0 7 13 2 5 80 8 0 8 4 4 14 17 6 7 18 8 15 0 0 0 8 8 19 24 11 20 0 12 21 29 21 27 25 83 0 28 16 0 100 0 14 25 9 13 15 7 0 5 11 18 18 25 12 93 0 18 40 0 100 0 46 11 65 42 11 60 0 25 46 42 31 18 50 0 84 31 0 0 0 0 0 52 88 81 45 90 0 84 83 83 65 55 82 0 77 72 0 0 0 0 0 86 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE BREEDING HOGS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piedmont STATE ALL HOGS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 11 6 5 0 40 10 ~ 1 1 _ 0 3 1 I 4 19 0 0 0 4 ~ 1 4 0 0 0 20 88 16 17 30 19 5 13 4 7 9 5 23 25 21 88 10 25 12 25 8 93 5 13 42 12 58 0 20 42 81 57 88 0 83 81 I APPENDIX TABLE 17. AVERAGE WEIGHTS OF CATTLE SOLD ACCORDING TO AGE AND MARKET GLASSES BY ALABAMA FARMERS, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Under 6 months Farms AniAv. rpt'g. mals wt. No. No. Lb. 24 11 2 2 4 2 45 130 21 21 6 20 3 201 224 328 301 352 229 267 248 6 months to 1 year Farms AniAv. rpt'g. mals wt. No. No. Lb. 11 25 15 8 3 3 65 76 124 389 16 4 13 622 363 355 427 424 264 304 401 Age groups 1 to 2 years Farms AniAv. rpt'g. mals wt. No. No. Lb. 4 16 7 4 6 3 40 13 99 8 8 6 13 147 857 598 462 400 350 592 592 X Over 2 years Farms AniAv. rpt'g. mals wt. No. No. Lb. 6 25 7 8 10 4 60 7 37 31 35 12 67 189 786 649 759 554 659 641 652 Farms rpt'g. No. 45 77 31 22 23 12 210 Total Animals Nco. 226 281 449 65 42 96 1159 Av. wt. Lb. 325 477 445 485 372 577 440 0 SLAUGHTER *uI Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE m I 0 In p STOCKERS AND FEEDERS Valley Coastal Plain 6 6 3 Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont 14 7 5 5 0 0 31 155 176 282 250 0 0 196 10 4 3 0 1 2 20 47 8 5 0 6 3 69 541 313 245 0 250 433 463 0 5 1 2 0 0 8 0 15 1 5 0 0 21 0 459 525 340 0 0 434 8 5 1 2 0 0 _r 16 9 8 1 6 0 0 24 715 444 600 550 0 0 579 24 20 8 5 1 2 60 70 38 12 16 6 3 145 486 373 313 391 250 433 421 1 0 Mountain STATE 0 16 (Continued) 0 APPENDIX TABLE 17 (Continued). AVERAGE WEIGHTS OF CATTLE SOLD ACCORDING TO AGE AND MARKET GLASSES BY ALABAMA FARMERS, BY AREAS, 1950 Age groups Area Under 6 months Av. Farms Aniwt. rpt'g. mals Lb. No. No. 2 3 1 0 0 0 6 3 4 1 0 0 0 8 117 138 228 0 0 0 141 6 months to Farms Anirpt'g. mals No. No. 0 3 1 1 0 0 5 0 6 1 5 0 0 12 1 year Av. wt. Lb. 0 358 420 430 0 0 393 1 to 2 years Av. Farms Aniwt. rpt'g. mals No. Lb. No. 3 2 1 1 0 1 8 5 3 6 1 0 1 16 370 450 610 710 0 500 504 Over 2 years Farms AniAv. wt. rpt'g. mals No. No. Lb. 9 21 3 1 2 4 40 11 28 4 2 2 4 51 779 651 781 980 725 762 713 Farms rpt'g. No. 14 29 6 3 2 5 59 Total Animals No. 19 41 12 8 2 5 87 Av. wt. Lb. arI BREEDING a Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE ALL CLASSES 567 543 619 602 725 710 578 aI C -1 C 70. Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 32 20 6 3 4 2 67 147 32 27 11 20 3 240 215 271 295 21 32 19 9 4 5 90 123 138 395 21 10 16 703 431 353 425 426 256 328 407 7 23 9 7 6 4 56 18 117 15 14 6 14 184 722 577 526 401 350 585 567 23 51 11 11 12 8 116 27 73 36 43 14 71 264 760 627 757 573 668 648 657 83 126 45 30 26 19 329 315 360 473 89 50 104 1,391 375 474 446 478 371 579 446 305 229 267 237 z -I dp m Hn aI ZI APPENDIX TABLE 18. AVERAGE WEIGHTS OF HOGS SOLD ACCORDING TO AGE, MARKET CLASSES BY ALABAMA FARMERS, BY AREAS, 1950 I 0 Age groups Area Under 3 months Av. Farms Animals wt. Lb. No. No. 15 11 2 0 2 2 32 - 3-5 months Av. Farms Animals wt. No. No. Lb. 11 12 7 1 4 0 35 211 68 23 2 32 0 336 72 102 84 225 62 0 79 - 6 months-I year Av. Farms Ammals wt. No. Lb. No. 31 67 8 17 0 9 132 2 31 - Over 1 year Av. Farms Ammals wt. No. No. Lb. Farms No. 62 119 20 21 6 11 289 7 5 2 0 1 0 15 Total Animals Av. wt. o- No. 1,052 1,406 134 861 45 127 3,125 20 6 8 0 1 0 35 Lb. 132 172 113 184 59 144 155 195 216 147 .0 200 0 188 133 172 115 184 62 144 155 m SLAUGHTER AND FEEDER Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE BREEDING' Valley 319 94 40 0 13 21 487 60 46 50 0 50 88 55 491 1,016 64 334 0 106 2,011 11 3 7 198 183 153 183 0 165 185 105 145 5 29 3 3 0 0 40 5 2 1 0 1 0 9 10 31 4 3 1 0 49 81 228 7 25 0 0 291 9 3 1 0 1 0 14 40 231 8 25 1 0 305 285 194 206 203 0 0 200 306 287 266 0 200 0 292 251 195 214 203 200 0 204 m r r r Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont 2O S40 2 13 O - 130 0 0 0 m 0A- -- Mountain STATE 0 0 0 0 0 0 Xf 6 15 11 2 0 2 2 32 319 94 40 0 13 21 487 60 46 50 0 50 38 55 11 12 7 1 4 0 35 211 68 23 2 32 0 336 72 102 84 225 62 0 79 33 70 9 17 0 9 138 21 502 1,019 71 334 0 106 2,032 119 196 183 151 183 0 165 185 ALL HOGS Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 69 1,072 124 1,412 22 142 21 361 7 46 11 127 254 3,160 'Ages of breeding animals began at 6 months. N, 52 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION APPENDIX TABLE 19. PERCENTAGES OF LIVESTOCK SOLD BY THE HEAD BY FARMERS ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES AND SPECIES, BY AREAS, ALABAMA, 1950 Slaughter Area (other Veal calve Stockers and DairyAll a Breeding than veal) calves feeders animals cattle Per cent CATTLE AND CALVES Per cent 17 83 __ Percent 56 37 25 Per cent 100 100 0 Per cent 100 100 27 Per cent 33 28 2 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt 22 17 1 Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 14 70 8 11 _ 32 __ 20 69 0 100 48 0 __ 100 76 100 100 84 22 48 15 20 Area HOGS Slaughter Per cent 21 14 6 1 Feeder Per cent 91 57 36 6__ Breeding Per cent 80 83 100 100 86 All hogs Per cent 55 22 33 2 57 24 32 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 9 14 56 95 71 APPENDIX TABLE 20. PERCENTAGES OF LIVESTOCK SOLD AT THE FARM ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES AND SPECIES, BY AREAS, ALABAMA, 1950 Area Stockers Slaughter Veal calves and feeders (except veal) Dairy and breeding All cattle Per cent CATTLE AND CALVES Per cent 6 0 _6 100 __ Per cent 86 29 17 0 100 Per cent 63 85 8 0 100 100 Per cent 21 22 1 7 86 15 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 18 12 0_ 8 96 8 Area HOGS 9 Slaughter Percent 16 14 0 1 _100 21 13 21 Feeder Per cent 78 59 88 6_ 29 63 Breeding Per cent 75 50 0 100 15 All hogs Per cent 46 22 28 2 100 385 29 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 100 66 -54 HOW ALABAMA FARMERS BUY and SELL LIVESTOCK 53 APPENDIX TABLE 21. PERCENTAGE OF FARMS BUYING LIVESTOCK BY TENURE OF OPERATOR, BY AREAS AND SPECIES, ALABAMA, 1950 Percentage of farms buying livestock Area Owner Cattle and Hogs calves Tenant Cattle and Ho calves All farmers Cattle and calves Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont' Mountain STATE Pct. 25 16 29 17 26 37 22 Pct. 24 20 3 21 0 3 18 Pct. 12 7 3 0 15 1 8 Pct. 15 20 3 14 23 0 15 Pct. 21 8 15 15 22 81 17 Pct. 21 20 3 20 9 3 17 APPENDIX TABLE 22. AVERAGE OF TIMES NUMBER OF HEAD OF LIVESTOCK PURCHASES WERE MADE, BOUGHT PER OF FARM, NUMBER AND NUMBER HEAD PER PURCHASE, BY SPECIES AND AREAS, ALABAMA, 1950 Average head bought Average number of Average head per purchase per farm purchases per farm per farm Cattle and Hogs Cattle and Hogs Cattle and Hogs Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE calves No. 5.7 9.4 31.0 7.9 8.9 10.8 9.9 No. 6.4 16.2 33.5 12.1 1.3 12.0 11.8 calves No. 2.0 2.6 6.9 3.6 2.4 4.0 3.1 gs No. 1.6 8.0 5.5 1.4 1.0 3.0 2.2 calves No. 2.9 3.5 4.5 2.2 1.6 2.6 8.2 Hogs No. 4.1 5.5 6.1 8.9 1.3 4.0 5.3 54 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION APPENDIX TABLE 23. PERCENTAGES OF LIVESTOCK BOUGHT BY THE HEAD BY ALABAMA FARMERS ACCORDING TO MARKET CLASSES AND SPECIES, BY AREAS, 1950 Area Area Stockers and feeders Per cent Dairy Per cent 100 100 100 Breeding Per cent 100 43 82 Slaughter Per cent 0 100 100 0 43 All cattle Per cent 67 18 16 CATTLE AND CALVES Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt 48 6 3 -- Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 21 40 1 13 100 100 100 60 100 17 63 Area HOGS Feeder Per cent 88 84 12 20 100 100 Breeding Per cent 89 100 0 100 0 -- Slaughter Per cent 71 17 _12 -- 51 67 10 80 All hogs Per cent 84 87 23 75 100 Valley Coastal Plain Black Belt Piney Woods Piedmont Mountain STATE 42 92 29 45