Cattle movements and livestock auction markets in Montana
by Allen R Clark
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Committee In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Science In Agricultural Eoonomics at Montana State College
Montana State University
© Copyright by Allen R Clark (1947)
Abstract:
The purposes of this study were: 1. To determine the movements of Montana cattle.
2. To determine the merits and shortcomings of auction markets in Montana.
3. To determine what farmers and ranchers believe to be the major weaknesses of auctions as a method
of marketing livestock.
In 1946 Montana farmers and ranchers shipped 504,003 cattle to other states. according to brand
inspection records. Brand inspection data were not kept in sufficient detail to differentiate between
movement to market or to feed lot.
Auction markets were found to be increasing in numbers and in number of cattle sold. None of the
Montana auctions were owned by cooperatives.
Auction markets have followed several practices which are generally considered to be objectionable,
but under existing law cannot be prohibited. Examples of such practices are* false selling to establish a
high price for market quotations| using sticks, clubs, canes, and whips in handling cattle# scale
inaccessible to buyer or seller# not selling animals in the order received at the market. In the past
Montana livestock auctions have not had sufficient supervision of scales or sanitary conditions.
Auction markets offer sufficient advantages to Montana livestock producers to justify their existence
and continued operation.
Some of these advantages are: a readily available market# sale by scale weight rather than lump weight
or per head# several buyers bidding on the animal: producer can refuse to sell if the price offered is not
satisfactory.
There is some evidence of agreement between certain buyers and between buyers and auctions to limit
prices paid for cattle.
Cattle grading has been done by the auction operator and according to his own standards, making price
comparison between markets difficult or impossible. CATTLE MOVEMENTS AND LIVESTOCK AUCTION MAMETS IN MONTANA
by
A lla n B. C lark
A THESIS
S ubm itted to th e G raduate Committee
In
p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e req u irem en t*
f o r th e d eg ree o f
M aster o f Soienoe in A g r io u ltu r a l Eoonomios
at
Montana S ta te C ollege
A pproved*
In Charge o f M ajor Work
Chairm an, Examining Committee
airm an , ^ ra d u a 1
Bozeman, Montana
November 19U7
C S f c
TABLE QT CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT * * ........................................................................................
PART I .
INTRODUCTION, ...............................
.
.
U
.
5
PART XI.
CATTLB MOVEMENTS AS SBDWK BY BRAND RECORDS • • . . .
'V
Why C a ttle Are Branded
Composition and Operation o f th e Montana
L lrestook Commission
Movement as Reported by Brand In sp ectio n . . . . . . .
P o e e ib le Uses fo r Brand In ep eetlo n Records . . . . . .
C onclusions end Summary. * * * * , # . * * * * , . # .
Rscommsndat i one.
PART I I I .
I
A
LIVESTOCK AUCTION MARKETS IS MONTANA. . . . . . . .
Number and L o c a tio n o f Montana L iv e sto c k A u ctio n # , * ,
Ownership and Management o f Montana A u etio n e * • • * •
S t a t e C o n tro l o f A u c tio n s.
P in a a o la l A rrangem sota o f Montana L lre s to e k A u ctio n s •
B u ild in g s and G rounds. « » « • • • • • • • * • • * • •
H elp Employed by Montana L ire s to o k A u c tio n s. • • • # •
T ra n s p o rta tio n F a c i l i t i e s a t Montana
L lre e to e k A u ctio n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Method o f A cooim tlng f o r C a t tle in th e
A uction M arkets, * , , * . * , . . * , * , , *
S p e c u la to rs and D e a le rs In A uction M arkets . . . . . .
G rading and M arket In fo rm a tio n . . * . * * , * . . .
C osts o f M ariceting ...................................
.
. . .
. .
C harges f o r S e llin g C a ttle in a Term inal M arket, , • •
Summary*
Recommendations.
8480 ,)
Rstseees e sssisss s Bamsz s s
Baekground . * . * * . . * * » * * . . . . . . * * , *
Purpose.
Problem .
..................
Souroes o f Data.
Methods and Techniques
Beriew o f L ite r a tu r e . . . . . . .................. . . . . . .
3
APPENDIX ....................... . . . .
md
Method o f S e le c tin g Sample . . . . .
S is e o f Parma i n Sam ple. . . . . . .
D ista n c e to an A uctio n M arket. . . *
H etum a R eceived from A u ctio n M arkets
I n te n tio n s to Uae A u ctio n M ark ets. . . . .
Buying and S e llin g P r a c tic e s Used by
Montana A uction O p e ra to rs . . . . .
A dvantages and D isad v an tag es o f L iv e sto c k
Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recommendation
68
So
PAHHBH OPItTCOHS OQNCEiifJING LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS. . . .
rv! iS
PAST IV.
. . . . . .
7J
. . . . . .
A u ctio n s * .
. . . . . .
76
78
81
81
....................... . . . . . . . . . . .
BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................ ............................................................ ....
82
Si*.
- UABSTBACf
The p u rp o ses o f t h i s stu d y were*
1.
To d eterm in e th e movements o f Montane c a t t l e ,
2.
To d e term in e th e m e rits and shortcom ings o f
a u c tio n m ark ets in M ontana,
3.
To d e term in e what fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs b e lie v e
to be th e m ajo r w eaknesses o f a u c tio n s as a
method o f m ark etin g liv e s to c k .
I n 19U6 Montana fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs shipped ^>04,005 c a t t l e
to o th e r s t a t e s , a c c o rd in g to brand in s p e c tio n r e c o r d s . Brand in sp e c ­
t i o n d a ta w ere n o t k e p t in s u f f i c i e n t d e t a i l to d i f f e r e n t i a t e between
movement to m arket o r to fe e d l o t .
A uction m ark ets w ere found t o be in c re a s in g in numbers and
i n number o f c a t t l e s o ld . None o f th e Montana a u c tio n s were owned
by c o o p e r a tiv e s .
A uction m ark ets have fo llo w ed s e v e ra l p r a c tic e s w hich a re
g e n e r a lly c o n sid e re d to be o b je c tio n a b le , b u t under e x is t in g law
can n o t be p r o h ib ite d . Examples o f such p r a c tic e s are* f a l s e s e l l i n g
to e s t a b l i s h a h ig h p r ic e f o r m arket q u o ta tio n s ; u s in g s t i c k s , c lu b s ,
c a n e s , and w hips in h a n d lin g c a t t l e ; s c a le in a c c e s s ib le to buyer o r
s e l l e r ; n o t s e l l i n g an im als in th e o rd e r re c e iv e d a t th e m ark et. In
th e p a s t Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s have n o t had s u f f i c i e n t s u p e rv is io n
o f s c a le s o r s a n it a r y c o n d itio n s .
A uctio n m ark ets o f f e r s u f f i c i e n t advantages t o Montana l i v e ­
s to c k p ro d u c e rs to j u s t i f y t h e i r e x is te n c e and c o n tin u e d o p e ra tio n .
Some o f th e s e ad v an tag es are* a r e a d i l y a v a ila b le m a rk e t; s a le by
s c a le w eig h t r a t h e r th a n lump w eig h t o r p e r head; s e v e r a l b u y ers
b id d in g on th e a n im a l; p ro d u c e r can re f u s e to s e l l i f th e p r ic e o f­
fe re d i s n o t s a t i s f a c t o r y .
There i s some ev id en ce o f agreem ent between c e r t a i n buyers
and betw een b u y ers and a u c tio n s to l i m i t p r ic e s p a id f o r c a t t l e .
C a ttle g ra d in g has been done by th e a u c tio n o p e ra to r and acco rd in g
to h is own s ta n d a r d s , making p r ic e com parison between m ark ets d i f ­
f i c u l t o r im p o s s ib le .
PART I .
INTRODUCTION
Background
S in ce th e days o f th e e a r l i e s t s e t t l e r s , Montana has produced
b e e f a n im a ls.
p u b lic domain*
p ris e s .
The e a r l y s e t t l e r s allow ed t h e i r c a t t l e to run on th e
Soxmdups and ran g e m aintenance were c o o p e ra tiv e e n t e r ­
B eef was s o ld o n ly a t roundup tim e .
Herds had to be t r a i l e d
lo n g d is ta n c e s to r a i l r o a d lo a d in g p o in ts and sh ip p ed to te rm in a l
m a rk e ts .
C a ttle w ere allow ed to run on th e ran g e a l l y e a r and l i t t l e
o r no d ry feed was given to th e c a t t l e .
In c o n t r a s t , th e ty p ic a l 19U6 Montana farm er o r ra n c h e r fe e d s
hay n e a r ly a l l w in te r .
and o th e r c o n c e n tr a te s .
Many c a t t l e a r e fa tte n e d on b a r le y , b e e t p u lp ,
B eef anim al# a re s o ld e v ery month o f th e y e a r .
ilUruoae
This s tu d y was u n d e rta k en w ith th r e e purposes*
1.
To d e te rm in e th e movements o f Montana c a t t l e .
2.
To d e term in e th e m e r its and shortcom ings o f
Montana a u c tio n m a rk e ts.
).
To d e term in e what farm ers and ra n c h e rs b e lie v e to
be th e m ajor w eaknesses o f a u c tio n s as a method
o f s e l l i n g liv e s to c k .
Problem
This f i r s t s e c tio n o f t ills stu d y i s concerned w ith su p p ly in g
answ ers t o th e fo llo w in g q u e s tio n s 1
6
I*
What a re th e movements o f e a t t l e between Montana
range and feed l o t s i n Montana end in o th e r
s ta te s ?
2«
Mhat a re th e o a t t l e movements between Montana
range and Montana m arkets?
)•
How can brand in s p e c tio n re c o rd s be used to
d eterm in e o a t t l e movements?
The second p a r t o f t h i s s tu d y i s concerned w ith su p p ly in g
answ ers to th e fo llo w in g q u e s tio n s ;
I.
What in flu e n c e does a u c tio n ow nership have on
th e o p e r a tio n a l p r a c tic e s o f th e a u c tio n s?
Zm
What a re th e m e rits and shortcom ings o f Montana
liv e s to c k ' a u c tio n s ?
3*
%hat do Montana farm ers and ra n c h e rs c o n s id e r to
be th e m ajor problem s o f a u c tio n m arkets as a
method o f m a rk e tin g liv e s to c k ?
Sources o f D ata
In fo rm a tio n f o r t h i s s tu d y came front fo u r s o u r c e s , namely;
1.
Montana brand in s p e c tio n r e c o rd s .
2.
Bureau o f A g r ic u ltu r a l Soonomios r e c o rd s .
3.
In fo rm a tio n on liv e s to c k a u c tio n o p e r a tio n a l
p ro ced u re g a th e re d by in te r v ie w s .
U*
Q u e stio n n a ire s m ailed to fa rm e rs .
Methods and Techniques
The brand in s p e c tio n and re c o rd in g d a ta were a n a ly se d to
d e te rm in e th e movement o f Mbntana o a t t l e .
A ll re c o rd s o f brand in ­
s p e c tio n numbers were cheeked a g a in s t census f ig u r e s a s m a in tain ed
by th e Bureau o f A g r ic u ltu r a l Economies.
7
-
The w r ite r a tte n d e d s a le s a t each Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n
and th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r s were in te rv ie w e d to o b ta in in fo rm a tio n on
o w n ersh ip , p h y s ic a l arrangem ent o f p l a n t , o p e r a tio n a l p ro c e d u re , and
p ra c tic e s .
Q u e s tio n n a ire s were m ailed to 1 ,8 8 5 Montana farm ers and
ra n c h e rs .
The q u e s tio n n a ir e s re tu rn e d were ta b u la te d and a n aly z e d .
P a r t I o f t h i s s tu d y i s an in tr o d u c tio n to th e t h e s i s .
P a r t I I i s devoted to a stu d y o f th e brand in s p e c tio n re c o rd s
a s m a in ta in e d by th e Montana L iv e s to c k Commission.
Mueh em phasis i s
p la ce d on th e o p e ra tio n o f th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission because
few p eo p le u n d e rsta n d th e p ro c e ss by w hich brand I n s p e c tio n re c o rd s
a re o b ta in e d .
P a r t I I I i s a d is c u s s io n o f th e a u c tio n m ark ets o p e ra tin g in
M ontana.
D e ta ils covered a r e ;
number o f a u c tio n s ; ow nership o f auc­
t i o n s ; management o f a u c tio n s ; s t a t e c o n tr o l o f a u c tio n s ; f in a n c ia l
a rra n g e m e n tsi b u ild in g s and g ro u n d s; h e lp employed; tr a n s p o r ta tio n
f a c i l i t i e s ; method o f a c c o u n tin g f o r c a t t l e in th e a u c tio n ; s p e c u la to r
and d e a le r o p e ra tio n * in th e a u c tio n m a rk e ts; g ra d in g and m arket in ­
fo rm a tio n ; and a com parison o f c o s ts o f m ark etin g i n a te rm in a l and
i n an a u c tio n m a rk e t.
P a r t IV i s a suaenary o f Montana farm er and ra n c h e r o p in io n s
ab o u t a u c tio n m a rk e ts.
This In fo rm a tio n was c o lle c te d by a stalled
q u e s tio n n a ir e .
Asvlew o f L i t e r a t u r e
One o f th e p r i o r p u b lic a tio n s i n t h i s f i e l d i s , Montana C a ttlo
S h ipm ents, S o u rc e s, D e s tin a tio n s , and C h arac te r o f M ontana's C a ttle
ShipwontB, by P h il S . E c k e rt and P, !,. S la g a v o ld , B u lle tin So. 385,
Montana S ta te C ollege E xperim ent S t a t i o n , May 1938.
B u lle tin 385
was baaed on In fo rm a tio n ta k en from Montana brand in s p e c tio n re c o rd s
d u rin g th e p e rio d 1925 to 1935*
The o n ly work p u b lish e d to d a te on Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s
l a , A Suggaary o f Producers* R eports on th e S a le o f L iv e sto c k by A uction
in Montana, by P h il 8 . E c k e rt, Montana S ta te C ollege A g r ic u ltu r a l
Experim ent S ta tio n Mimeographed C irc u la r No* 7» A p ril 1938.
l i c a t i o n co v ers o n ly th e s o u th e a s te r n c o rn e r o f th e S t a t e .
Thie pub­
Mimeo­
graphed C irc u la r S o . 7 i s based upon q u e s tio n n a ir e s m ailed to farm ers
and ra n c h e rs who w ere known to have used th e a u c tio n m ark et or to
have had a f i n a n c ia l i n t e r e s t in th e a u c tio n m ark et.
Mimeographed
C iro u la r No. 7 1» based on r e p o r ts from 119 fa rm e rs .
Some o f th e b u l l e t i n s w r itt e n a t o th e r s t a t i o n s on th e s u b je c t
o f liv e s to c k a u c tio n s are*
L iv esto c k A u ctio n s in A rkansas by O tle P. Osgood and John A,
W hite, U n iv e r s ity o f A rk a n sa s,C o lleg e o f A g r ic u ltu r e , A g r ic u ltu r a l
E xperim ent S ta tio n B u lle tin 439» Ju n e 1943*
This b u l l e t i n d e a ls w ith
th e l o c a t i o n s , o p e r a tio n s , and s e r v ic e s o ' liv e s to c k a u c tio n s in
A rk an sas.
L iv e sto c k Movement a t Kentucky A uction M arkets by A. J . Brown
and C. D. P h i l l i p s , Kentucky A g r ic u ltu r a l Experim ent S ta tio n B u lle tin
Ho. 432, June 1942.
Ih ie b u l l e t i n d is c u s s e s v a rio u s c la s s e s o f l i v e ­
s to c k s o ld in Kentucky liv e s to c k a u c tio n s and s u g g e s ts methods o f
d e te rm in in g c la s s e s o f llv e s b o o k so ld in a u c tio n m a rk e ts.
9
L lv eato o k A uction S a le s in th * U n ited S ta ta s by C« 0 . B andell
and L« Be Mann, P ara C re d it A d m in is tra tio n , May 1959.
i s a s tu d y o f th e a u c tio n m ark ets in th e U n ite d S ta te s *
o f a u c tio n m ark ets a r e c o v ered .
o f a g e n e ra l n a tu r e .
This b u l l e t i n
Many phases
A ll recom m endations and fin d in g s a re
The problem s o f th e v a rio u s s e c tio n s o f th e
c o u n try a r e n o t d iscu ssed *
10
PABT I I .
CATTLE MOVEMENTS AS SHOWN BY BRAND RECORDS
Why C a ttle Are Branded
The f i r s t s e t t l e r s who came to Montane were c a ttle m e n .
Montana had l i t t l e tim b e r In th e a re a f i r s t s e t t l e d , and th e r e was
no s u i t a b l e method o f d e ta in in g anim als so th e y were allow ed to run
on th e p u b lic dom ain.
Each man p u t h is mark o r b ran d on th e animal
t o i d e n t i f y i t and to p re v e n t t h e f t .
in te rm in g lin g o f c a t t l e on th e ra n g e .
No a tte m p t was made to p re v e n t
S tr a y s were re tu rn e d to t h e i r
owner on th e b a s is o f th e brand th e y b o re .
The Montana T e r r i t o r i a l Government adopted a ran g e law
which i s c o n tr a r y to common law .
Under common law , a liv e s to c k
owner m ust keep h is s to c k w ith in a fen ce o r be l i a b l e f o r damage
done.
Under range law , a p ro p e rty owner m ust e n c lo se h i s p ro p e rty
w ith a l e g a l fen ce o r stan d any damage t h a t liv e s to c k b elo n g in g to
o th e r s may do to th e cro p s o r property."*"
Many Montana fa rm e rs now b ran d t h e i r c a t t l e o n ly f o r th e p u r­
pose o f p re v e n tin g th ie v e r y o r b ecau se th e y own a b ran d and b e lie v e th e y
a re store a p a r t o f th e rom antic West by h aving th e liv e s to c k bran d ed .
S ee, R obert S. F le tc h e r , O rg a n is a tio n o f th e Rsuage C a ttle
B u sin e ss i n E a s te rn Montana ( B u lle tin No. 265I Bozeman, M ontana#"
Montana S ta te C o lle g e , A g fT o u ltu ra l E xperim ent S t a t i o n , Ju n e 1 9 )2 ).
A ls o , M. S aunderson, Economic Changes in M ontana's Range L iv e sto c k
P ro d u c tio n ( B u lle tin No. ) l l , Bozeman, Montana! Montana S ta te
C o lle g e , A g r ic u ltu r a l Experim ent S t a t i o n , February 1 9 )6 ).
-
11
Com poaltlon aad O p eratio n o f th e
Montana L lvoatook 5o»»laalem '
The Montana L lv e a to e k Comroleaion I e composed o f s ix members,
p
eaeh h o ld in g o f f i c e f o r a term o f s i x y e a r s .
Two members a re ap­
p o in te d by th e g o v ern o r eaeh y e a r .
The Montana L iv e s to c k Commission
h i r e s an e x e c u tiv e o f f i c e r ( som etim es c a lle d th e s e c r e ta r y ) to tr a n s ­
a c t b u s in e s s f o r th e Commission.
The Montana L iv e s to c k Commission i s a ls o th e L iv e sto c k Sani­
t a r y B oard, and a s su c h . I t a p p o in ts th e s t a t e v e t e r i n a r i a n and h is
a s s i s t a n t s t o e n fo rc e s a n it a r y r e g u la tio n s .
The law o f Montana p r e s c r ib e s t h a t a l l s e t t l e b e in g moved
a c r o s s a co u n ty l i n e be in s p e c te d to d e term in e i f any a r e removed
from th e county by p e rso n s o th e r th a n t h e i r le g a l ow ner.
The county
s h e r i f f o r one o f h i s d e p u tie s I s a p p o in te d a s s to c k I n s p e c to r ,
Za
a d d itio n to th e s h e r i f f th e r e a r e f r e q u e n tly some lo c a l p e rso n s ap­
p o in te d a s brand in s p e c to r s .
In s e l e c t i n g th e s e c o u n try p o in t In sp ec­
t o r s , em phasis i s p la c e d upon g e ttin g someone lo e s te d w here a la r g e
number o f c a t t l e n o rm a lly p ass In going to m a rk e t.
2
Anyone who p la n s 2
An a c t p assed by th e Montana T e r r i t o r i a l L e g is la tu r e on Maroh
1 2 , 1885, p ro v id in g f o r th e Montana T e r r i t o r i a l L iv e sto c k A s s o c ia tio n ,
was amended by an a c t o f March 7» 1887, and now a p p ea rs on th e lew
books as S e e tlo n s 52 to 56 o f th e 5 th D iv is io n o f com piled s t a t u t e s o f
1887. Ih e co m position o f th e board was changed by S e c tio n I , page 1 77,
o f th e law# o f 1897 end govern in g o f th e a s e o e ia tio n was amended by
S e c tio n # 2950 to 2957 o f th e p o l i t i c a l code o f 1895 end was amended
by C hapter 5 0 , law# o f 1905. S e c tio n 5255 o f th e R evised Codes o f
Montana c o n s o lid a te d th e Board o f Stock Commissioners and th e Board
o f Sheep Commissioner* I n to th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission.
- 12-
to more e n t i l e from th * t neighborhood c a l l s , a t l e a s t tw e n ty -fo u r
h o u rs In advance, to t e l l th e b read in s p e c to r how many head o f
c a t t l e th e r e w i l l be f o r In s p e c tio n .
Hie lo c a l in s p e c to r th e n d e c id e s
w hether to have th e c a t t l e b ro u g h t to him o r to go to th e ran ch to
make th e in s p e c tio n .
The lo o a l b ran d in s p e c to r o r county s h e r i f f may
be c a ll e d upon to re a d a brand in a ease o f d is p u te d o w n ersh ip .
If
th e r e i s " a re a so n a b le d o u b t in th e mind o f th e in s p e c to r " , he may
o rd e r th e a n ln a l k i l l e d and sk in n ed so t h a t he can re a d th e brand
from th e f l e s h s id e o f th e s k in and th u s d eterm in e I f th e r e has been
an a l t e r a t i o n o f th e o r i g i n a l b ra n d .
When a county o r c o u n try p o in t in s p e c to r checks an animal f o r
movement a c r o s s a county l i n e , he makes o u t a form c a ll e d a lo c a l in ­
s p e c tio n s l i p .
On th e lo c a l in s p e c tio n s l i p he re c o rd s th e number
and se* o f th e a n im als c a r ry in g each b ra n d , th e o w n e r's name and ad­
d r e s s , th e county from which th e c a t t l e a re moved and th e d e s ti n a tio n
o f th e e a t t l e b e in g moved.
trip lic a te .
The lo c a l in s p e c tio n s l i p i s made o u t in
One copy i s r e ta in e d by th e lo o a l in s p e c to r f o r h ie
re c o rd sa th e second copy i s s e n t to th e E xecutive O f f ic e r o f th e
Montana L iv e sto c k Commission in H elena f o r th e S ta te f i l e s a and th e
t h i r d copy i e given to th e p erso n moving th e o a t t i e a s h is a u th o ris a ­
tio n to move th e anim al i n t o c o u n tie s o th e r th an th e one o f o r i g i n .
C ountry and lo c a l p o in t ia a o e c to re a re p a id on a p er head
in s p e c tio n b a s i s f th e y re c e iv e n o t more than tw e n ty -fiv e c e n ts p e r
head f o r in s p e c tin g cue to tw enty n e e d , ben c e n ts p e r head f o r tw enty
to t h i r t y h e a d , and th r e e d o l l a r s p e r day f o r in sp e c tin g ; h e rd s l a r g e r
- 1) th en t h i r t y h ead .
Money c o lle c te d from county and c o u n try p o in t
in s p e c tio n s i s p a id d i r e c t l y to th e in s p e c to r f o r h i s work and he
re c e iv e s no pay from th e L iv e sto c k Commission.
Th* S ta te o f Montana i s d iv id e d in to tw elve f i e l d d i s t r i c t s
(s e e f i g . I ) . each o f which i s s u p e rv is e d by a sto c k I n s p e c to r .
The
d i s t r i c t in s p e c to r checks th e work o f lo c a l and county In s p e c to r s
and s to p s tr u c k s on th e ro ad s to s e e t h a t th e y a re com plying w ith
b ran d in s p e c tio n la w s.
In th e few e a s e s o f t h e f t , " r u s t l i n g " , t h a t
o ccu r in M ontana, th e d i s t r i c t s u p e r v is o r s a s s i s t th e co u n ty s h e r i f f
and o th e r law enforcem ent o f f i c e r s in c a tc h in g th e c r im in a ls .
The
d i s t r i c t sto c k in s p e c to r s a re p a id on a y e a r ly b a s is from she Montana
L iv e sto c k Commission fu n d s .
I f a d i s t r i c t s to c k I n s p e c to r makes a
lo c a l in s p e c tio n , he sen d s th e fe e s c o lle c te d to t h e S t a t e L iv esto c k
Commission.
The t h i r d ty p e o f brand in s p e c to r i s th e p u b lic m arket in ­
s p e c to r .
He i s , a s th e name would i n d i c a t e , s ta tio n e d perm anently a t
a p u b lic liv e s to c k m a rk e t.
There were te n p u b lic m arket in s p e c to r s
in Montana when t h i s stu d y was made.
The i n - s t a t e p u b lic m arket in ­
s p e c to r s were lo c a te d a t B i l l i n g s , Boeeman, B u tte , Glasgow, G reat F a l l s ,
H avre, Lew istow n. M iles C ity , M isso u la, and S id n ey ,
There were seven
o u t - o f - s t a t e p u b lic m arket r e p o r te r s lo c a te d a t CM eago, I l l i n o i s ;
Idaho F a l l s , Id a h o ; Omaha, N ebraska; South S t. P a u l, M innesota; Sioux
C ity , Iowa; Spokane, W ashington; and West F argo, N o rth D akota.
Per­
m issio n to move c a t t l e sh ip p ed by r a i l i s o b ta in e d by u s in g a w r itt e n
H e len a
MONTANA
Figure _1_
Brand In a p e e tlo n D l a t r l e t a
*
15
•
s ta te m e n t t h a t th e c a t t l e a r e go in g to one o f th e above m arkets and
b ra n d s w i l l be In s p e c te d t h e r e , ^
P u b lic m arket In s p e c to r s check c a t t l e coming I n to th e p u b lic
m arket and re c o rd th e b ran d s on a form c a lle d a b ran d t a l l y .
brand t a l l y I s made o u t In t r i p l i c a t e .
The
One copy i s r e ta in e d by th e
in s p e c to r f o r h i s f i l e , th e second copy i s m ailed to th e E x ecu tiv e
O f f ic e r
Cf
th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission f o r h is f i l e , and th e
t h i r d copy i e given to th e p u b lic m arket as th e b a s is f o r making
payment to th e p erso n b rin g in g in th e anim al o r f o r w ith h o ld in g th e
check i f th e r e i e any q u e s tio n o f o w n ersh ip .
A f te r c a t t l e a re in ­
sp e c te d a t th e c o u n try p o in t wad a r r i v e a t a p u b lic m arket t h a t ham
a brand i n s p e c t o r , th e m arket in s p e c to r checks th e c a t t l e to be c e r­
t a i n th e r e has been no s w itc h in g o f a n im a ls .
brand t a l l y .
He th e n makes o u t a
To th e second copy o f t h e brand t a l l y he a tta c h e s th e
f C ra e r1S o r r a n c h e r 's copy o f th e lo c a l in s p e c tio n s l i p .
Khen th e
brand t a l l y and lo c a l in s p e c tio n s l i p a r r i v e in th e o f f i c e o f th e
Montana L iv e s to c k Commission, th e o r i g i n a l copy o f th e lo c a l in sp e c ­
t i o n s l i p i e removed from th e f i l e s end b o th th e f a r m e r 's Oopy and
th e S ta te O ffic e copy a re d e s tro y e d .
This removes th e c o u n try p o in t
in s p e c tio n from a l l re c o rd s e x c e p t th e f i l e s o f th e c o u n try p o in t
in s p e c to r .
^D eta g a th e re d by p e rso n a l in te rv ie w w ith Montana L iv esto c k
C om m issioner, Ralph M ira c le , and C h ief I n s p e c to r , B i l l S u t t e r ,
16
The o th e r form u sed by th e m arket in s p e c to r I e a m arket
c le a r a n c e .
The m arket c le a ra n c e l a a ls o made o u t i n t r i p l i c a t e .
One
copy l a r e ta in e d by th e m arket in s p e c to r f o r h ia f i l e s , th e second
copy i s m ailed to th e E x ecu tiv e O f f ic e r o f th e Montana L iv e sto c k
Commission f o r h is f i l e s and one copy i s given to th e p u rc h a se r o f
th e liv e s to c k a s ev id en ce o f ow nership and a u th o r ity to re b ra n d .
The p e rso n n e l o f th e Montana S ta te L iveetook Comsoieslon o f f i c e
i s composed o f th e C h ief I n s p e c to r , th e E x ecu tiv e O f f ic e r and s e v e ra l
c le rk s .
Hie C h ief In s p e c to r i s in ch arg e o f th e law enforcem ent
s e c tio n o f th e brand in s p e c tio n and l a a s s i s t e d by an A s s is ta n t C h ief
I n s p e c to r .
The c l e r i c a l and a d m in is tr a tiv e p o rtio n o f th e Montana
L iv e s to c k Commission i s headed by an E x ecu tiv e O f f i c e r .
I t i s th e
d u ty and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e E x e c u tiv e O ffic e r to see t h a t only
one p erso n h as a s p e c i f i c brand r e g i s t e r e d , to c o l l e c t a l l s a le funds
from anim als in which th e r e i s q u e s tio n o f o w n ersh ip , " e e tr a y s " , u n t i l
such tim e a s ow nership i s e s ta b lis h e d .
The p u b lic m ark et in s p e c to r s , d i s t r i c t in s p e c to r s . C hief
I n s p e c to r , A s s is ta n t C h ief I n s p e c to r , E x ecu tiv e O f f i c e r , and c l e r i c a l
h e lp a re a l l p a id from th e Montana S ta te L iv esto c k Commission Fund.
A ll o f f i c e equipm ent and s u p p lie s a re purchased from th e Montana
S ta te L iv e sto c k Commission Fund.
The Montana S ta te L iv esto c k Commission Ihind i s th e fe e s c o lle c te d
by th e m arket in s p e c to r s and moneys from e s tra y s n o t claim ed w ith in
f iv e y e a rs o f f i r s t d a te a d v e r tis e d .
Only anim als to which no p e rso n
can prove ow nership a f t e r s a le a re l i s t e d in th e m onthly and annual
• 17 -
l i s t i n g o f s e tra y s .
These e s tr a y e l i s t s a re p u b lis h e d in th e
Montana S toekgrow er. w hich i s th e o f f i c i a l organ o f th e Montana
Steokgrow ere* A s s o c ia tio n ,a n d i n o th e r p a p ers o f w ide c ir c u la t io n
In a g r i c u l t u r a l com m unities in M ontana.
The system o f fin a n c in g by fe e c o lle c tio n and fu n d s from
u n claim ed " e s tr a y e " d a te s back to th e o r ig i n o f th e Montana S ta te
L lT estook Commission,
tfhem th e T e r r i t o r i a l L e g is la tu r e p ro v id ed f o r
a T e r r i t o r i a l L iv e sto c k A s s o c ia tio n , th e y had no power to c o l l e c t
ta x e s f o r t h e s u p p o rt o f th e work,
When Montana became a s t a t e , th e
l e g i s l a t o r s , b e in g r e l u c t a n t to impose ta x e s , allow ed th e L iv e sto c k
Commlaelon to be fin a n c e d as th e T e r r i t o r i a l L iv e sto c k A ss o c ia tio n
had b e e n .
An e s tim a te o f amount o f money to be a v a ila b le a t auy month
o f th e y e a r h as t o be based on th e number o f c a t t l e in s p e c te d d u rin g
t h a t month in p re v io u s y e a r s , p lu s th e funds from s a l e o f " e s tra y e "
t h a t w i l l be a v a il a b le d u rin g t h a t m onth,
m a rk e tin g s v a ry g r e a t l y from y e a r to y e a r .
Montana m onthly b eef
Some " e s tr a y e " w ill have
ow nership e s ta b lis h e d d u rin g th e l a s t month o r two o f th e f iv e - y e a r
p e rio d o f a d v e rtis e m e n t.
I t i s an a c c e p te d p r i n c i p l e o f b u s in e s s management t h a t ade­
q u a te and d e f i n i t e f in a n c in g i s e s s e n t i a l fo r any o f f i c e to do s a t i s ­
f a c to r y w ork,
Montana law sho u ld be changed to in s u r e ad eq u ate and
d e f i n i t e fin a n c e s f o r th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission end th e Montana
L iv e s to c k S a n ita r y B oard.
—
18
*■
Morement a» R eported by Brand In s p e o tio n
D ate i n table I Bhow the Btatee to which Montana c a t t l e were
sh ip p ed i n I 9 I46 and th e number o f c a t t l e sh ip p ed to each s t a t e .
Only th r e e s t a t e s - C a l if o r n ia , I l l i n o i s , and Iowa - re c e iv e d
c a t t l e from more th a n 75 p e rc e n t o f th e c o u n tie s i n M ontana.
Ten
s t a t e s re c e iv e d c a t t l e from more th a n h a l f o f th e Montana c o u n tie s .
F o u rtee n s t a t e s re c e iv e d c a t t l e from l e s s th a n 25 p e rc e n t o f th e
Montana c o u n tie s , and te n s t a t e s re c e iv e d c a t t l e from th r e e o r few er
c o u n tie s .
M ontana,
Three s t a t e s re c e iv e d c a t t l e from o n ly one co u n ty in
Hew Mexico re c e iv e d 2l|6 s t e e r s and I4I4O c a lv e s from Big Horn
County) A rkansas re c e iv e d f i v e cows, one b u l l , and th r e e c a lv e s from
M u ss e lsh e ll County; C o n n e c tic u t re c e iv e d a l l o f i t s tw e n ty -fiv e un­
c l a s s i f i e d c a t t l e from S i l v e r Bow C ounty.
Twenty-one s t a t e s re c e iv e d a l l c la s s e s — s t e e r s , cows, b u l l s ,
c a lv e s , and u n c l a s s i f i e d c a t t l e - from M ontana.
re c e iv e d o n ly u n c l a s s i f i e d c a t t l e .
c a lv e s from M ontana.
One s t a t e , C o n n e c tic u t,
Canada re c e iv e d o n ly b u l l s and
The number o f u n c l a s s i f i e d c a t t l e was la r g e r
th a n e x p e c te d .
F o r ty - f iv e p e rc e n t o f th e o u t - o f - s t a t e shipm ents w ere
not c la s s ifie d .
When th e w r i t e r d is c u s s e d u n c l a s s i f i e d c a t t l e w ith
Mr. M ira cle th e e x p la n a tio n was given t h a t many m a rk e ts had n o t been
f i n a n c i a l l y a b le to employ s u f f i c i e n t in s p e c to r s to h a n d le th e la r g e
volume o f b u s in e s s so d id n o t c l a s s i f y c a t t l e .
Of th e 273,967 c l a s s i ­
f ie d c a t t l e , I48 p e rc e n t were s t e e r s , 57 p e rc e n t were c a lv e s , lU p e r­
c e n t w ere cow s, and I p e rc e n t w ere b u lls *
19
TABLE I .
HUMBER AND CLASS OF CATTLE SHIPPED PBOM
MONTANA TD OTHES STATES, IgZiS
O roupA e
S ta te
S te e r s
Cowa
B u lla
C alves
C a t tle
T o tal
C a lif o r n ia
3 6 ,5 9 5
12,622
56k
9 ,8 9 9
k3.kko
102,920
Iowa
16,25k
2 ,8 k 2
370
23.979
2 7 .6 0 k
71,0k9
Illin o is
19.521
2 ,k 8 5
302
16,378
19,062
99,768
R aahlngton
7,281
2 ,6 6 6
297
3.001
37,k30
50,675
M innesota
5 ,2 3 k
1,367
6k
7,570
3k,276
k0.511
Idaho
7 .3 3 k
3,k06
395
3 .896
10.339
25,370
R y o m iB g
5.790
3,660
387
9 ,1 5 3
6,378
25,368
South Dsdcota
k ,0 9 3
3,ok9
186
5.00k
11,189
23,521
N orth Dakota
2 .9 1 5
2 ,87 6
k03
k ,9 8 2
7,928
19.10k
N ebraska
5,653
676
6
2,k79
S .lk l
16.935
U tah
6,320
1,397
130
2 ,3 6 5
6 ,7 2 3
16,935
W isconsin
2 ,2 k 5
365
O
3.336
3 ,3 8 7
9,333
Oregon
k .3 7 5
635
290
1,829
2 ,0 3 2
9.161
Ohio
1 ,112
263
O
1.997
1,382
k ,7 5 k
95
57
O
997
2 ,0 2 7
3 .176
lfiohigan
s S ta te a In Group A re c e iv e d 96 p e rc e n t o f th e o a t t l e shipped
from M ontana, 19U&*
S ouroei
Montana L iv e sto c k Commission Brand In s p e c tio n
-coords.
20
TABLE I ,
(C o n tin u ed )
k
Croup B
S ta te
S te e r s
Mevada
Cows
B u lls
Calvos
C a ttle
T o tal
1,518
205
141
206
921
2,991
In d ia n a
712
79
6
1 .4 7 7
712
2,986
C olorado
9U1
250
61
683
574
2 ,5 1 4
P e n n sy lv an ia
1,592
Tl
55
405
581
2,482
A rl zona
1,969
0
0
50
0
2,019
M isso u ri
588
107
0
128
235
1,106
Mevr J e r s e y
71*0
58
I
14
0
815
Texas
695
0
50
26
0
771
Kew Mexico
21*6
0
0
41*0
0
686
D elaw are
127
0
0
0
260
587
Sew York
72
64
0
23
197
266
M aryland
IOO
0
0
0
55
155
Kansas
0
24
I
5
114
144
M assa c h u se tts
0
0
0
0
46
46
C o n n e e tie u t
0
0
0
0
25
25
Canada
0
2
20
1
0
25
A rkansas
0
- I
I
3
0
9
1 )5 ,6 9 7
5 9 ,2 )1
3,700
102,351
225,056
504,005
TOTAL
S ta te * In Croup B re o e lv ed U p e rc e n t o f th e c a t t l e shipped
from M ontane, 19W»*
S o u reei
Montana L iv esto o k Gtsemlseton Brand I n s p e c tio n Records*
21
-
D ate In t a b l e I I I n d ic a te th e r e were f iv e c o u n tie s which had
more brand ln e p e e tio n a in 1946 th a n th e r e were c a t t l e on f a m e and
ran ch es In th o s e c o u n tie s on Ja n u a ry I , 1945#
An e x p la n a tio n o f t h i s
c o n d itio n i s t h a t many c a t t l e were in s p e c te d s e v e ra l tim es#
would be an example o f m u ltip le I n s p e c tio n .
lR ils
C a ttle b o m In H ill
County moved to B la in e County as y e a r lin g f e e d e r s .
A fte r ab o u t n in e ty
days in th e fe e d l o t , th e came c a t t l e re tu rn e d to th e a u c tio n m arket
a t H avre, H i l l County#
When th e c a t t l e f i r s t moved from H ill to
B la in e County, a brand ln a p e o tlo n s l i p was made and th e second copy
was f i l e d w ith th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission O ffic e a t H elena as
an o r i g i n a l I n s p e c tio n .
As th e c a t t l e moved back I n to H ill County
from B la in e County, th e y were in s p e c te d a g a in , and a g ain re p o rte d as
an o r i g i n a l I n s p e c tio n .
Most c a t t l e a r e reb ran d ed when going in to
feed l o t s and a h e a le d brand l a c o n sid e re d s u f f i c i e n t e v id e n c e o f
ow nership#
This r u lin g makes i t im p o s sib le to tr a c e a group o f
c a t t l e th ro u g h s e v e ra l moves#
S in c e brand in s p e c tio n s in d ic a te c a t t l e moving in to o r o u t
o f th e e o u n ty , i t i s e v id e n t t h a t some f a c t o r o r f a c t o r s Oause many
c a t t l e to move in to and back o u t o f th e s e f iv e c o u n tie s .
One o f th e
l a r g e s t su g ar m ills I n th e S ta te I e lo c a te d in B la in e County#
Sugar
b e e t p u lp h a s bean a m ajor fe e d i n th e c a t t l e f a t t e n i n g In d u s try in
th e S t a t e , so i t i s assumed t h a t th e m ill had a m ajor In flu e n c e on
th e c a t t l e movements i n B la in e C ounty.
C o n trib u tin g f a c t o r s to la r g e
numbers o f c a t t l e moving in to Cascade County were an a u c tio n m arket
and some m eat peek in g p la n ts lo c a te d In G re at F a lls#
F a c to rs c a u sin g
22
TABLE I I . HUMBER OP BRAHD I NSPECHONS IH EACH
MONTANA COUNTY IN I 9 I4& AND TOTAL CATTLE
OH MONTANA FARMS - JANUARY I , 19^5
Brand
In sp ec­
tio n
Record
Number o t
C a ttle on
Farms
Ja n u a ry
I . 1945
B eaverhead
B ig Horn
B la in e
B roadw ater
Carbon
41.015
46,522
5 .159
8 ,7 1 4
8 ,425
101,900
85,100
50.700
25.700
59,900
C a rte r
Cascade
Chouteau
C u ste r
D a n ie ls
9,481
8 9 ,6 0 4
11,298
69.511
642
Dawson
D eer Lodge
F a llo n
Fergus
F la th e a d
G a lla tin
G a r f ie ld
G la c ie r
Golden V a lle y
G ra n ite
County
Brand
In s p e c ­
tio n
Record
Number o f
C a ttle on
F ares
Ja n u a ry
I . 1945
M ineral
M issoula
M u sse lsh e ll
P ark
P etro leu m
253
4 3 ,4 4 4
5 .8 8 2
6,565
4 ,5 0 5
1,400
17,000
23,900
34.100
17,400
29.700
60,500
51,200
58,500
16,000
P h illip s
7.266
Pondera
1 .1 6 7
Powder R iver 14.002
Pow ell
7.539
P ra irie
7 ,1 3 4
51,200
16,700
61,900
32.400
18,100
8 ,0 6 4
754
4 ,9 0 7
47,106
2 ,1 0 2
29.900
5,600
25,900
81,500
19.200
R a v a lli
R ichland
R o o sev elt
Rosebud
S anders
4 ,3 2 3
43.160
4 .9 6 5
19.255
1 ,6 6 6
37.500
39.106
29,300
73,500
19,900
47.539
5 ,6 6 4
6,959
5,065
5.622
65,100
31,900
19,900
18,100
21,500
S h e rid a n
S i l v e r Bow
S tillw a te r
Sweet G rass
Teton
1.272
59,809
9 ,0 2 4
8 ,238
13.217
25.900
6,700
40,700
33,500
32,800
H ill
1 8 ,2 4 4
Jefferso n
4 .5 7 7
J u d i t h B asin
8,473
Lake
3.025
Lewis and C lark 11,045
27,600
17,700
40,500
41,500
33.300
Toole
Treasu re
V a lley
W heatland
Wibaux
2,522
4 ,4 5 5
14.297
9 .9 2 2
5,495
15,600
19,500
47,600
23,600
14,800
L ib e r ty
L in c o ln
Madison
McCone
Meagher
11,000
7,003
55,200
28,100
33.500
Y ellow stone
15,015
62,100
TOTAL 815,905
1 ,9 2 4 ,0 0 6
County
1,295
219
10,591
6 ,258
14,259
Souroet Montana A erio u ltu ra l S t a t i s t i c s (H e le n a, Montana:
U n ite d S ta te s Department o f A g r ic u ltu r e , Bureau o f A g r ic u ltu r a l
Eoonomica, 1946 ) 66 - 67 .
«•
23
“
la r g e number# o f c a t t l e to move I n to O u ster County were an a u c tio n
m ark et a t M iles C ity and some s e t t l e f a tte n in g in C u ste r Coontyi w h ile
f a c t o r s c a u s in g la r g e numbers o f c a t t l e to move in to M isso u la County
w ere an a u c tio n m arket and su g ar m ill a t M issoula*
The a u c tio n m arket
and su g ar m ill a t Sidney w ere c o n tr ib u tin g f a c to r s f o r such la r g e
movements o f c a t t l e i n t o SLcitland County*
S il v e r Bow County Ie sm all
in s i s e b u t draws c a t t l e from s e v e ra l su rro u n d in g c o u n tie s due l a r g e ly
to i t s a u c tio n m arket and peeking in d u s try *
Most o f th e c a t t l e moving o u t o f th e S ta te w ere in s p e c te d a t
th e p o in t o f o r ig in and were c r e d ite d to th e s t a t e g iv e n a s d e s tin a ­
tio n *
There were e a s e s in which c a t t l e d id n o t go to th e p la c e where
th e y w ere o r i g i n a l l y sch ed u led to go*
One l o t o f c a t t l e b e a rin g an
u n u su al brand was f i r s t in s p e c te d a t M iles C ity w ith d e s ti n a tio n
b e in g g iv e n a s C a lifo rn ia *
The w r i t e r n o tic e d th e same b ran d in
a n o th e r f i l e and when checked b ack , th e two groups w ere id e n tic a l*
The c a t t l e had been purchased and s t a r t e d f o r C a l if o r n ia , b u t unloaded
f o r fe e d and w a te r a t B u tte , M ontana, and " t r i e d th e m arket" w h ile
unloaded*
They w ere s o ld and sh ip p ed to I l l i n o i s .
Both m arket
c le a ra n c e s l i p s w ere e n te r e d as o r i g i n a l s a l e s : y e t one gave C u ste r
County a s p o in t o f o r ig in and C a lif o r n ia as d e s t i n a t i o n , and th e
second gave S i l v e r Bow County as o r i g i n and I l l i n o i s a s d e s tin a tio n *
There i s no method o f cheeking th e freq u en cy w ith which such changes
w ere made.
However, th e t o t a l movement from Montana oheoks w ith in
2 p e rc e n t o f th e number reco rd ed by th e Bureau o f A g r ic u ltu r a l
Seonomloe on movement o u t o f Montana.
24
A v e ry e $ * ll p e re e n ta g e o f th e o u t» o f* « ta t« e h lp e s a is were
lnsj> 9 « t »4 a t th e d e s tln s tio n s #
Ih » i» were th e c a t t l e sh ip p ed to
te rm in a l m ark ets a t C hicago, I l l i n o i s ; Idaho F a l l s , Id ah o ; Omaha,
N ebraska; South S t . P a u l, M innesota; Stoux C ity , Iowa; Spokane,
W ashington; and West F argo, N o rth D akota where m arket in s p e c to rs
w ere m a in ta in e d .
The re c o rd s o f brand in s p e c tio n as m ain ta in ed In 1946 p ro v id ed
an a c c u r a te cheek o f o w n ersh ip .
re c o rd s w ere m a in ta in e d .
This was th e purpose f o r which th e s e
The re c o rd s o f brand In s p e c tio n d id n o t
f u r n is h In fo rm a tio n o f movements and c ro s s movements o f c a t t l e w ith in
th e S t a t e .
There was no a tte m p t made to s e p a r a te movement to fe e d
l o t o r p a s tu r e from movements to m a rk e t.
Many c a t t l e w ere counted
two o r more tim es w ith a d i f f e r e n t county o f o r ig i n I n each c o u n t.
P o a s lb le Uses f o r Brand In s p e c tio n Record#
In fo rm a tio n on ln ~ e ta te movements o f Montana c a t t l e would be
u s e f u l to many p e o p le .
The S ta te V e te r in a r ia n would be b e t t e r a b le
to p r e d ic t o u tb re a k s o f oontageous d is e a s e and le a u e w arn in g s o f Im­
pending o u tb re a k s o f d is e a s e I f he knew th e movements o f Montana
c a ttle *
In 1946 th e r e was a sm all o u t-b re a k o f a n th ra x In so u th ­
e a s te r n M ontana.
The S ta te V e te r in a r ia n q u a ra n tin e d tn e a re a and
is s u e d w arnings to a l l p u b lic m arket* in Montana to be e s p e c ia ll y
w a tc h fu l f o r s u s p ic io u s c a t t l e .
I f th e S ta te V e te r in a r ia n had known
where c a t t l e n o rm a lly went from t h i s a r e a , he oould have s ta tio n e d
members o f h is s t a f f a t s t r a t e g i c p o in ts and by t n a t method co u ld have
been wore c e r ta in no d is e a s e d an im als were m ark eted .
25
D u tie s o f th e Hontana S ta te S t a t i s t i c i a n r e q u ir e him to e s t i ­
m ate th e number o f c a t t l e on farm s and ra n c h es from r e p o r ts o f lo c a l
s l a u g h t e r , r a ilr o a d e a r lo a d in g s , and te rm in a l m ark et r e c e ip ts in
y e a r s n o t h av in g an a g r i c u l t u r a l c e n s u s •
I f liv e s to c k movement r e p o r ts
w ere a v a il a b le to th e S ta te S t a t i s t i c i a n , th ey would s e rv e as v a lu a b le
cheeks on o th e r so u rc e s o f in fo rm a tio n and as cheeks on h is e stim a te s *
A c cu ra te r e p o r ts on c a t t l e movements m ight be u s e f u l to th e
S ta te Board o f R a ilro a d Commissioners i n h e a rin g s co n ce rn in g th e d i s ­
c o n tin u a n c e o f r a i l s e r v ic e w ith in th e S ta te *
I f in fo rm a tio n had been
a v a il a b le on r a i l and tr u c k movements o f c a t t l e in M ontana, th e
h e a rin g on r a i l f r e i g h t r a t e s , h e ld in Ja n u a ry 19U7 # B ig h t have had
a d iffe re n t r e s u lt.
Montana llv e s to o k a s s o c ia tio n s a re i n t e r e s t e d in liv e s to c k
movements so th e y may make th e m ost e f f i c i e n t u se o f t h e i r a d v e rtisin g *
The Montana A g r io u ltu r a l E xperim ent S ta tio n I s i n t e r e s t e d in
o a t t l e movements so i t may s tu d y th e m ark ets and m a rk e tin g a g en c ie s
t h a t a re m ost u sed by Montana l iv e s to c k producers*
C onclusions and Summary
Aa now m a in ta in e d , th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission brand
in s p e c tio n re c o rd s a re n o t s u i t a b l e f o r s t a t i s t i c a l s tu d ie s *
At th e
p r e s e n t tim e , th e brand in s p e c tio n re c o rd s show d e f i n i t e p ro o f o f
ow nership w hich i s t h e i r p u rp o se .
The o p e ra tio n o f th e Montana
L iv e s to c k Commission i s n o t u n d e rsto o d by a m a jo r ity o f Montana
fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs *
Many o f th e s to c k in s p e c to rs have d i f f i c u l t y
in f i l l i n g o u t form s and r e q u ir e c lo s e s u p e rv is io n to In s u re ow nership
26
re c o rd s b e in g eoourefce.
Ib e Montane L lv ee to e k Commission I s n o t
a d e q u a te ly o r d e f i n i t e l y fin a n c e d .
wecommendati one
I,
A change sh o u ld be made In Montana Law to p ro v id e
d e f i n i t e and ad eq u ate fin a n c in g f o r th e Montana
L iv e sto c k Commission and S a n ita r y Board#
2#
Brand in s p e c to r s sh o u ld re c o rd th e county from
which c a t t l e a re moved and n o t u se th e p o s t o f f i c e
a d d re ss when f i l l i n g i n th e county o f o r ig i n on brand
in s p e c tio n re c o rd s#
3#
The fo llo w in g a re recom m endations fo r changes in
th e bran d in s p e c tio n forms to a s s i s t in making th e
brand re c o rd s s u i t a b l e f o r s t a t i s t i c a l purposes#
( a ) In c lu d e a s e c tio n f o r I n d ic a tin g th e
re a so n f o r moving th e liv e s to c k #
(b ) In c lu d e a s e c tio n f o r in d ic a tin g w h eth er
anim als a re to be reb ran d ed and what
brand w i l l be used#
A ll b ran d in s p e c tio n s l i p s I n d ic a tin g movement to
p a s tu r e o r fe e d l o t sh o u ld be f i l e d s e p a r a te ly ,
5*
When c a t t l e a re moved from p a s tu re o r fe e d l o t ,
th e o r i g i n a l county sh o u ld be c r e d ite d w ith o n ly
one move#
6#
Ihe S ta te O ffic e o f The Montana L iv e sto c k Cownis»
• io n sh ould f a s te n in s p e c tio n s l i p s in d ic a tin g a
r e s a l e to th e in s p e c tio n e l i p showing th e o r ig i n a l
sale #
27
PART H I .
LIVESTOCK AUCTIOB MARKETS IK MOSTAMA1
Number and L o c a tio n o f Montana
L iv esto o k A uotione
The lo c a tio n and g eo g rap h ic d i s t r i b u t i o n o f th e liv e s to o k
a u c tio n s i n Montana can be seen in f ig u r e 2 .
There a r e no p o in ts
in Montana more th a n two hundred m ile s from a liv e s to c k a u c tio n .
One a u th o r ity on liv e s to c k m a rk e tin g gave th e p e rio d o f
m ost ra p id grow th, in numbers o f liv e s to c k a u c tio n s , as 1952- 19 ) 6 .2
Reasons given f o r th e ra p id in c r e a s e in numbers o f liv e s to c k auc­
tio n s d u rin g t h i s p e rio d a r e :
1.
Low p r ic e s f o r liv e s to c k caused by d e p re s s io n .
2.
D is a s tro u s d ro u th s in 1933» 1934, and 1936.
3.
D e sire on th e p a r t o f many p ro d u c e rs to s e l l
t h e i r c a t t l e n e a r home.
U.
D is s a tis f a c ti o n w ith r e l a t i v e l y h ig h m ark etin g
c o s ts .
5«
C om petition fo r fa rm e rs ' b u s in e s s by lo c a l
m erchants and Chambers o f Commerce.
6.
G eneral tendency tow ard d e c e n tr a lis e d m ark ets
fo llo w in g improvement o f ro ad s and in c re a s e d
u se o f m otor tr u c k s .*
1 The d a ta f o r t h i s s e c tio n were g a th e re d d u rin g Jan u a ry 1947 *
A ll d is c u s s io n i s based on c o n d itio n s as th e y e x is te d a t t h a t tim e .
^A u stin A. Dowell and Knute B jo rk a , L iv e sto c k M arketing
(Hew York: MoGraw H i l l Book Company, 1941) 1 W .
^Baeed on in fo rm a tio n by C. G. R andell and L. B. Mann, L iv e sto c k
A uction S a le s i n th e U nited S ta te s ( B u lle tin Ho. 35l Parm C re d it
Aflmihi s t r a t i on, May 1939 ) .
H elena
MONTANA
HI LL
Ll NCOL
CUT BANK
L IB E R TY
• CHINOOK
HAVRE *1
• SHELBY
•L IB B Y
LAI NE
f L AT HE A
R OOS
• MALTA
P H I L L I P S
E
V
E
L T
W O LF P O IN T
• KALISPEL L
• CONRAD
UTEAU
CHOTEAU
sanoer
R I C H L A N O jb
• FO RT BENTON
VsIdnsy
M C C O N E
K E
fPOLSON
THOMPSON F A L LS
CIRCLE •
L E WI S
AND
G
,Mi n e r a U 3
L
I
fTEissouut
POWELL
J
1 eE
L
0
#
WINNET T
MUSS E LS H E L L
^ M E A G H E R
HARLOWTON
X whi te su lph u r
TOWNSEN d \ s p r , n g s
HAMILTON
P
PETROLEUM
J UD
BASI N
mi s s o u l a
R
JORDAN
FERGUS
STANFORD
A
G OLD EN I
VALLEY
• ROUNDUP
FORSYTH
WHEATLAND
BOULDER
CUSTER
YEGATE
BROADWATER
'TREASURE I R O S E B U D
YELLOWSTONE
✓ deer
lodge/
RA VAL LI
SWEET GRASS
JEF FE RSO N
SILVER
s—
>BOW
ekalaka
GALLATIN
[STILLWATER
LIVINGSTON
V
DILLON •
POWD E R
\c o l u m b u s
MADISON
B E A V E R H E A D
• HARDIN
RIVER
broadus
PARK
CARBON
RED LODGE
Figure
AUCTION MARKETS, DECEMBER 31,
G
H O R N
WIBAUX
29
Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s a re a c o m p arativ ely r e c e n t develop­
ment#
Except f o r a b r i e f p e rio d ab o u t 1900 when c a t t l e were s o ld a t
a u c tio n i n M iles C ity , th e f i r s t a u c tio n m arket in Montana s e l l i n g
liv e s to c k o th e r th a n h o rs e s was e s ta b lis h e d a t B illin g s in 19)li#
The
a u c tio n a t G re at F a lls s t a r t e d in 1936 and in th e same y e a r th e M iles
C ity a u c tio n commenced th e s a le o f c a t t l e .
The a u c tio n a t Bozeman was
e s ta b lis h e d in 1938| a t M issou la in 1939* a t H avre, Lew istow n, and
S idney i n 1943* a t B u tte i n 19U5* and a t Glasgow i n I 9 I46.
Ownership and Management o f lifontana A u ctio n s
The p e rio d o f s u p e rv is io n by th e p re s e n t o p e r a to r o r manager
a t each m arket was a s fo llo w s :
The M isso u la o p e ra to r had been th e r e
f o u r y ears* B u tte , Glasgow, and Havre were o p e ra te d by th e p erso n
o r i g i n a l l y opening th e m arket} th e o p e ra to rs a t S id n e y , Lewistown,
G re a t F a l l s , and Bozeman had been th e r e l e s s th an one y e a r ,^
The b u ild in g s and grounds were owned by th e s a le c o rp o ra tio n
in B u tte , G re at F a l l s , S id n ey , and M iles C ity .
Each o f th e s e s a le s
was o p e ra te d as a p a r tn e r s h ip o f two o r more p a r tn e r s .
The grounds and y a rd s a t M isso u la w ere owned by th e N o rth ern
P a c i f i c R a ilro a d .
In Havre th e grounds and y ard s were owned by th e
G reat N orthern R a ilro a d .
The grounds and y ard s a t Bozeman and B illin g s
w ere owned by p r iv a te in d iv id u a ls and le a s e d by th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r ;
w h ile th e p h y s ic a l p la n t a t Glasgow wan owned by an a s s o c ia tio n made
up o f th e members o f th e Glasgow Chamber o f Commerce and o th e r
la ta g a th e re d by in te rv ie w ,
30
i n t e r e s t e d persons*
The Glasgow Chamber o f Commerce members com­
posed s i x t y - t h r e e p e rc e n t o f th e p e rso n s and b u s in e s s firm s owning
s to c k , and owned s e v e n ty -s ix p e rc e n t o f th e s to c k .
C a p ita l s to c k
owned by each s h a re h o ld e r v a rie d from tw e n ty -fiv e to one thousand
d o lla rs .
The l a s t annual m eeting v o ted t o s e l l th e grounds and
o th e r p ro p e rty to any in d iv id u a l o r group t h a t would pay a p r ic e
s u f f i c i e n t to a llo w a l l s to c k h o ld e rs t o r e a l i s e t h e i r in v e stm en t
o r make a p r o f i t . ^
The a u c tio n m arket a t Lewistown was o p e ra tin g on p ro p e rty
b e lo n g in g to th e F ergus County F a ir A s s o c ia tio n , b u t th e o p e ra to r
was n o t s a t i s f i e d w ith th e p h y s ic a l p la n t a rran g em en t.
The s a le
company ag reed " n o t to u se th e grounds f o r a two weeks* p e rio d each
y e a r , s a id p e rio d to come d u rin g th e months o f A u g u st, Septem ber,
o r O ctober* th e e x a c t d a te to be a n n u a lly d ecid ed upon by th e Board
o f D ir e c to r s o f th e F a ir A s s o c ia tio n ." ^
A ll Montana a u c tio n m arkets
a re o p e ra te d as p r iv a te e n t e r p r i s e s .
S ta te C o n tro l o f A uctions
Members o f th e Montana L e g is la tu r e have r e a l i z e d a u c tio n
m ark ets o p e ra tin g w ith o u t s a n i t a r y r e g u la tio n were a p o t e n t i a l so u rce
o f eontageous d is e a s e and i n f e c t i o n .
The members have a ls o r e a liz e d
c
D ata ta k en from th e 19it6 Annual B usiness R ep o rt, Glasgow
Chamber o f Commerce.
^Taken from th e c o n tr a c t betw een th e Fergus County F a ir
A s s o c ia tio n and th e Lewistown a u c tio n s a l e .
~
31-
th a t ir r e s p o n s ib le persons were l i k e l y to s t a r t a u ction s a le s and
by th e ir fa ilu r e oause la r g e lo s s e s to Montana llv e s t o e k producers*
Laws were passed in 1953 end rev ised in 1935 empowering th e
Montana L ivestock Oowmlssion to grant or deny a p p lic a tio n fo r lle e n a e s
to op erate liv e s to c k a u ctio n s and to p r o h ib it s a le o f liv e s to c k a t
organ ised a u c tio n s u n le s s lic e n s e d by th e Montana L ivestock Commis­
sion*
Appeal to th e cou rts o f th e S t a ts was provided in ea ses o f
d is s a t is f a c t io n w ith the d e cisio n *
The laws o f 1933 and 1935 provide fo r hearings to be hold in
th e l o c a l i t y in which a req u est fo r lic e n s in g an a u ctio n market i s
received*
Hearings on th e esta b lish m en t o f an au ction market must
be ad vertised In a l l lo c a l papers fo r a period o f n o t lo s s than two
weeks in advance o f th e hearing*
The Montana L ivestock Commission,
ten days in advance o f th e h ea rin g , n o t i f i e s the operator o f any
oth er liv e s to c k au ction th a t might be a ffe c te d by th e new market,
th e s e c r e ta r ie s o f th e Montana Stookgrowers A sso c ia tio n and the
Montana Woolgrowers A ss o c ia tio n , and any r a ilr o a d s operatin g Into
or through the town or o it y in which th e proposed market would be
located *
At the h ea rin g , w itn esse s are c a lle d for and a g a in st th e
auction*
Admission o f evidence i s much th e same as in c o u r ts.
A fter
hearing a l l e v id e n c e, th e L ivestock Commission makes i t s d ecision *^
7
C haoter 193, S e c tio n 3 , 2 9 th Montana L e g is la tiv e Assembly.
52
In 19*46» s lle e n e e wee re fu s e d a group a t P o iso n .
An appeal
was made to th e c o u r ts , and new e v id en c e was su b m itte d to each c o u rt
h e a rin g th e e a s e .
The Montana Supreme C ourt f i n a l l y approved th e
a p p lic a tio n #
The 19U7 L e g is la tu r e amended th e e x is t in g law to r e q u ir e a
o a re fP l t r a n s c r i p t i o n o f a l l ev id en ce p re s e n te d a t any h e a rin g w ith
such e v id en c e to be u sed as th e o n ly ev id en ce In a c o u rt appeal#
The c o u rts may d e c id e o n ly upon th e f a i r n e s s and th e l e g a l i t y o f
th e h e a rin g and d e c is io n o f th e Montana L iv e sto c k Commission as
based on e v id en c e su b m itte d to th e c o u r t.
R ecen tly th e p o lic y o f th e L iv e sto c k Commission has been to
d is c o u ra g e th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f any new liv e s to c k a u c tio n s.®
I t is
th e b e l i e f o f th e Montana L iv e s to c k Commission t h a t anyone w ishing
to s e l l c a t t l e in an a u c tio n m arket I s now w ith in re a so n a b le tru c k in g
d is ta n c e o f such a m arket and t h a t in c r e a s in g th e number o f a u c tio n
m ark ets w i l l reduce b u y e r numbers and th e re b y d e c re a se c o m p e titio n
among b u y e rs .
I f more a u c tio n m ark ets a r e approved, each w ill n o t
h an d le s u f f i c i e n t liv e s to c k to a t t r a c t p ack er b uyers and o th e r o u to f - s t a t e b u y e rs .
The Montana S a n ita r y Board has had d i f f i c u l t y in
h ir i n g s u f f i c i e n t q u a l i f i e d h e lp to e n fo rc e s a n it a r y and q u a ra n tin e
8
In fo rm a tio n g a th e re d by in te rv ie w w ith members o f th e Montana
L iv e s to c k Commission.
33
r e g u la tio n s in th e a u c tio n m ark ets now o p e ra tin g .
I f more m arkets
a re approved, more s u p e rv is io n by th e S a n ita r y Board w i l l be n eed ed .
F in a n o ia l A rrangem ents o f Montana
L lvostook A u ctio n s
Among th e f a c to r s m ost c lo s e ly checked b e fo re th e lo c a l h e a rin g
i s h e ld i s th e f in a n c ia l s ta n d in g o f th e p erson o r p e rso n s making an
a p p lic a tio n f o r a p e rm it to o p e ra te an a u c tio n m a rk e t.
The Montana
L iv e s to c k Commission h as n o t approved an a p p lic a tio n u n le s s th e
a p p lic a n t was o f good f in a n c ia l s ta n d in g and had c o n s id e ra b le e q u ity
in p ro p e r ty .
The F e d e ra l P ack ers and S to ck y ard A ct o f 1921 r e q u ir e s a l l
m a rk e ts coming u n d er i t to e s t a b l i s h t r u s t acco u n ts to be used in
t h e i r buying and s e l l i n g o p e r a tio n s .
The p ro v is io n s o f th e Act ap p ly
to p a c k e rs ' o p e ra tio n s and to buying and s e l l i n g a c t i v i t i e s on p o ste d
s to c k y a rd s .
S to c k y a rd s coining u n d er th e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f th e A ct a re
th o s e conducted o r o p e ra te d f o r a com pensation o r p r o f i t as a p u b lic
m arket and w ith pens and o th e r e n c lo s u re s t o t a l i n g more th a n 20,000
sq u are f e e t i n a r e a .
The a u c tio n m ark ets a t B i l l i n g s , Bozeman, G reat
F a l l s , and M issoula come under th e p ro v is io n s o f th e P ack ers and
S to c k y a rd s A ct.
By p o s tin g i s m eant n o tif y in g th e p u b lic t h a t no
p erso n s h a l l c a r r y on th e b u s in e s s o f a m arket agency o r d e a le r a t
th e sto c k y a rd u n le s s he i s p ro p e rly r e g is te r e d u n d er th e A ct.
"The P ackers and S tock y ard A ct g iv e s th e S e c re ta r y o f
A g r ic u ltu r e th e d u ty o f s e e in g t h a t ch arg es a re j u s t ,
re a s o n a b le , and n o n d is c rim in a to ry . A c c o rd in g ly , a l l
p o s te d sto c k y a rd s and th e a g e n c ie s o p e ra tin g on them
a re re q u ire d to f i l e w ith th e U n ite d S ta te s D epartm ent
- 3k
o f A g r ic u ltu r e and to make a v a ila b le to th e p u b lic ,
sc h e d u le s s t a t i n g th e ch arg es f o r th e s e v e ra l s to c k y a rd s e r v i c e s . Once th e se c h arg es a re f i l e d , i t i s
u n la w fu l to d e p a r t from th e sch ed u le w ith o u t g iv in g
te n d a y s ’ n o tic e to th e S e c re ta r y o f A g r ic u ltu r e by
f i l i n g a new s c h e d u le .
wA second f e a tu r e o f th e A c t’ s a d m in is tra tio n which
has been v ery im p o rta n t and has giv en s h ip p e rs a
g r e a t d e a l o f p r o te c tio n i s th e req u ire m e n t t h a t
m arket a g e n c ie s and d e a le r s c a r r y a bond to g u a ra n te e
f u l f i l l m e n t o f f in a n c ia l o b lig a tio n s . The amount o f
th e bond depends on th e volume o f b u s in e s s h an d led
by each a g e n c y ." "
The Montana L iv e sto c k Commission has adopted th e t r u s t fund
system o f h a n d lin g payments and has re q u ire d th e t r u s t fund to be
m a in ta in e d in a bank c a r ry in g F e d e ra l D e p o sit C o rp o ra tio n in s u ra n c e .
Montana law r e q u ir e s a te n tho u san d d o lla r bond be p ro v id ed
by th e liv e s to c k a u c tio n o p e ra to r to in s u r e h is com pliance w ith th e
r u le s g o v ern in g a u c tio n o p e ra tio n s and s a n it a r y r e g u la tio n s .
The
bond i s a ls o fo r p r o te c tio n o f any p erso n who may s u f f e r lo s s o r
damage due to v i o l a t i o n o f any r u le s o r laws g o v ern in g o p e ra tio n a l
p ro c e d u re .
B u ild in g s and Grounds
W ith one e x c e p tio n , th e b u ild in g s and grounds o f Montana
a u c tio n m ark ets w e re, in th e o p in io n o f th e w r i t e r , ad eq u ate and
s a tis fa c to ry .
The pen fe n c es were made o f sawed lum ber two in c h es
Q
7G e o ffre y S. S hepherd, M arketing Farm P ro d u cts (Ames, Iowat
Iowa S ta te C ollege P r e s s , 1946) '1)27-1^8.
- 35 th io k in e l l m arket* e x c e p t Havre and Olaagowe
and Glasgow y a rd s was made o f p o les#
P a r t o f th e Havre
Four y a rd s used lum ber s ix
In c h e s w ide; fo u r y a rd s used lumber e ig h t Inches w ide; and one y ard
used lumber te n in c h e s wide#
The p o r tio n s o f th e pens made o f p o le s
had th e ends sawed sq u are and were s o l i d l y n a ile d to th e p o s ts so th ey
d id n o t cause a p p re c ia b ly more b r u is in g th an f l a t lum ber would cause#
A ll p o s ts were o f a d eq u a te s i so and s e t d eep ly enough to e lim in a te
lik e lih o o d o f break in g #
The one a u c tio n w ith in a d e q u a te p h y s ic a l
p la n t was a t Lowistown#
The pens were made o f v a rio u s m a te r ia ls ,
and were sm all and p o o rly arranged#
Many pens were n o t b u i l t to
w ith s ta n d th e shocks caused by c a t t l e moving and m illin g around#
The
o p e r a to r o f th e a u c tio n a t Lewistown p lan n ed to b u ild a new yard#
Only two a u c tio n s , Boseman and M isso u la, had a l l pens paved#
In each o f th e s e y a rd s some o f th e pavement had crack ed and was In
g r e a t need o f re p a ir#
The y a rd a t M ie s C ity was e x tre m e ly muddy#
The y a rd was lo c a te d on a p o o rly -d ra in e d p ie c e o f ground t h a t slo p ed
tow ard th e m iddle o f th e yard#
Feed bunks and w a te rin g tro u g h s were n o t s u p p lie d i n a l l pens
a t any o f th e a u c tio n m arkets#
When asked th e r e a s o n , a l l o p e ra to rs
gave th e e x p la n a tio n t h a t m a te r ia ls had n o t been a v a il a b le fo r con­
s t r u c t i o n o f ad eq u ate and s a t i s f a c t o r y bunks and tr o u g h s .
The Boseman
a u c tio n planned to i n s t a l l c o n c re te bunks f o r chopped hay and c o n c re te
w a te rin g tro u g h s .
The p la n s shown th e w r i t e r would produce h ig h ly
d e s i r a b l e fe e d in g and w a te rin g f a c i l i t i e s #
Feed bunks and w ater tro u g h s
«*
)6
—
were n o t d ie ln f e o te d a f t e r eaoh s a l e , so p ro v id ed a c o n s ta n t so u rce
o f p o s s ib le I n f e c t i o n ,
Many farm ers and ra n c h e rs r e p o rte d having
purchased anim als w ith pinkeye o r s c o u rs from a u c tio n m a rk e ts.
Mo
farm er o r ra n c h e r in te rv ie w e d condemned th e Montana L iv e sto c k Sani­
t a r y Beard f o r a llo w in g th e s e d is e a s e d anim als to be s o ld .
Farmers
and ra n c h e rs In te rv ie w e d agreed t h a t I t was alm o st I- p o s s ib le f o r
them to t e l l an e a r ly s ta g e pinkeye from wind and d u e t i r r i t a t i o n
o r e a r ly s ta g e * o f sc o u rs from e x c ite d an im als o r an im als coming
o f f " s o f t" g r a s s .
The f e a tu r e f o r which a l l Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s should
be c r i t i c i s e d was th e s c a le a rran g em en t.
There waa n o t one a u c tio n
In w hich th e s c a le beam oould be seen from as many as h a l f th e s e a ts
In th e p a v l l l l o n ,
!Ilth th e p r e s e n t arrangem ent o f s c a le s . I t i s im p o ssib le f o r
th o s e who w ish to buy s e v e ra l l o t s o f o a t t l e to see w hat l a In th e
r in g and to w atch th e w eighing o f th e anim als th e y have j u s t p u rch ased .
I t i s r e l a t i v e l y easy to push th e s c a le w eight beyond where I t w ill
b a la n c e and stamp th e w eight t i c k e t q u ic k ly enough to have th e arrow
on th e w eig h t s l i p show th e s c a le In b a la n c e a t th e h e a v ie r w e ig h t.
To p r o t e c t h im s e lf , th e p u rc h a se r m ust be a b le to aee i f th e w eight
i a h o n e s t.
When th e a u c tio n o p e ra to r ta k e s o a t t l e from s e v e ra l s e c tio n s
o f th e y ard a t th e same tim e . I t i s im p o ssib le f o r th e s p e c ta to r to
t e l l w hether th e su cc e ed in g l o t s o f an im als eoming I n to th e s a le rin g
a r e anim al# he w ishes to p urch ase u n t i l th e y a re In th e s a le r in g .
- 37 I f a buyer l e r r e a h ia s e a t to w atch a l o t o f anim ala w eighed, he
w i l l Io a e th e o p p o rtu n ity to buy th e n e x t two o r th r e e l o t a o f
o a t t i e going th ro u g h th e r i n g .
To g e t to th e s c a le a t Glasgow, a s p e c ta to r had to go o u t­
s id e th e b u ild in g , th ro u g h th r e e g a t e s , and in to th e o f f i c e ,
tiaoh
g a te i s a p a r t o f an a l l e y way in which c a t t l e were moved to o r from
th e s a le s r i n g , so i t was alm ost im p o ssib le to see anim al a s e l l and
a ls o see them w eighed.
A t th e o th e r s a l e s , i t i s l e s s d i f f i c u l t to
sac anim als s o ld and w eighed.
Montana liv e s to c k p ro d u cers sh o u ld a p p r e c ia te th e work done
by th e B illin g s p u b lic sto c k y a rd s in a d v e r tis in g th e f a c t t h a t one
can see th e liv e s to c k weighed in t h e i r y ard and t h a t c e r t a i n s a le
y a rd s d id n o t p e rm it in s p e c tio n o f w e ig h ts .
T heir im m ediate t a r g e t
was th e B illin g s a u c tio n , b u t th e e f f e c t was f e l t over th e e n t i r e
S ta te .
In a l l Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s th e p erson who weighs th e
c a t t l e i s p a id by th e a u c tio n company.
Only one w eighm aster had
ta k e n any e x am in atio n s o r had had any i n s t r u c t i o n on w eig h in g .
She
was a bonded w eighm aster f o r a su g ar m ill when i t o p e ra te d , and worked
in th e a u c tio n a t Sidney th e r e s t o f th e y e a r .
She was n o t bonded
w h ile w orking a t th e a u c tio n .
Montana d id n o t have any r e g u la tio n s r e q u ir in g a u c tio n y ard s
to be paved o r d ra in e d u n t i l Ja n u a ry 19it7«
w ere p o o rly d ra in e d and v e ry muddy,
Some o f th e a u c tio n y a rd s
rthen a l o t o f muddy anim als come
- 38-
i n t o th e e a le s r i n g , th e b u y ers do n o t pay a s much p e r pound f o r
them a s th e y do f o r c le a n an im als o f s im ila r q u a lity and weight#
In a d d itio n to b rin g in g l e s s p e r pound, fa rm e rs , d e a l e r s , and a u c tio n
o p e r a to r s agreed t h a t th e anim als sh ran k more when p u t in muddy p en s.
The in c re a s e d sh rin k a g e was due to th e f a c t t h a t th e y became nervous
and m ille d around more i n th e p e n s, th u s th e y burned up body t i s s u e
and l o s t w e ig h t.
Muddy pens were p a r t i c u l a r l y o b je c tio n a b le in th e
f a l l and w in te r when th e w e ath e r was c o ld , and th e mud m ig h t cause
pneum onia.
There w ere s e v e ra l e ase s re p o rte d in I 9 I46 o f c a t t l e
becoming m ired in th e muddy y a rd s and b e in g tram p led to death.*®
The mud and f i l t h in some o f th e a u c tio n s caused th e Montana
L iv e s to c k S a n ita r y Board to is s u e R e g u la tio n J 6 , to become e f f e c t i v e
A p ril 1 0, 19U7.
S e c tio n k» p arag rap h I through 6 s t a t e s t
" A ll p u b lic s a le y a rd s s h a l l be k e p t in a c le a n and
s a n it a r y manner so as n o t to become a p u b lic n u is a n c e
and s h a l l be k e p t i n a c le a n and o r d e r ly manner to
re a so n a b ly p re v e n t th e b re e d in g o f f l i e s and o th e r
i n s e c t s . They s h a ll be a d e q u a te ly d ra in e d and con­
c r e te flo o r e d o r g ra v e lle d where n e c e s s a ry to p re v e n t
mud h o le s o r u n s a n ita r y c o n d itio n s .
" P ro p e rly c o n s tr u c te d lo a d in g and u n lo a d in g c h u te s
and h o ld in g pens s h a l l be p ro v id e d f o r th e humane,
s a n i t a r y , and e f f i c i e n t h a n d lin g o f liv e s to c k .
" A ll a lle y s and a l l lo a d in g and u n lo a d in g pens s h a l l
be a d e q u a te ly d ra in e d and covered w ith c o n c re te o r
o th e r a c c e p ta b le im pervious m a te r ia l n o t l a t e r th a n
O ctober I , 19U7«
10In fo rm a tio n g a th e re d by an in te r v ie w w ith D r. W. J . B u tle r ,
E x e c u tiv e O f f i c e r , Montana L iv e sto c k S a n ita r y Board.
59
" A ll h o ld in g pens s h a l l be a d e q u a te ly d ra in e d and
covered e i t h e r w ith c o n c re te o r o th e r a c c e p ta b le
im pervious m a te r ia l o r g r a v e lle d in such a manner
a s t o avoid mud h o le s . I f g ra v e l Ie In a d e q u ate to
p re v e n t mud h o le s# then th e h o ld in g pens s h e l l be
covered w ith c o n c re te o r o th e r a c c e p ta b le im pervious
m a te ria l,
"H olding pens and any a re a s o f th e y ard t h a t become
muddy o r t h a t a re c o n sid e re d d e le te r io u s to anim al
h e a lt h s h a l l be o rd e re d c lo se d by th e v e te r in a r y
in s p e c to r end th e liv e s to c k s a le y ard company s h a l l
n o t u s e stieh pens o r a re a s u n t i l th e d e f e a t has been
removed and th e pens r e le a s e d and approved by th e
v e te r in a r y in s p e c to r f o r h o ld in g liv e s to c k .
" S a le y a rd owners o r lic e n s e e s w i l l be re q u ire d to
e o n o re te , cause to be c o n creted # o r covered w ith an
a c c e p ta b le Im pervious m a te ria l# a t l e a s t o n e - th ir d o f
th e t o t a l a r e a o f th e yard# n o t l a t e r th a n May I ,
19iiS# and o n e - h a lf o f th e rem ain in g a re a each suc­
c ee d in g y e a r u n t i l th e y a rd s a r e co m p letely con­
c re te d o r covered w ith an a c c e p ta b le im pervious
m a te r ia l •"
This r u li n g sh ould m a te r ia lly improve th e s a n i t a r y c o n d itio n
o f th e a u c tio n s a l e y a rd s .
Help Employed by Montana L iv e s to c k A uotions
Montana law does n o t p ro v id e any r e g u la tin g o r llo e n a in g o f
a u c ti o n e e r s .
s a le s .
Any p e rso n can be h ir e d by an a u c tio n m ark et to o ry th e
The e x p e rie n c e o f a u c tio n e e rs employed ranged from seven months
to tw en ty y e a r s .
There i s a wide v a r i a t i o n In number o f men. employed f u l l tim e
by th e v a rio u s a u c tio n s .
The number o f p erso n s employed by each o f
th e Montana llv e s to e k s u c tio n s i s in d ic a te d i n t a b l e I I I .
v a rio u s jo b s to be done around an a u c tio n s a l e .
There a re
On s a le day th e re
a r e c a t t l e coming in t h a t have to be yarded in to th e c o r r e c t p en s.
IASLE I I I .
SUMBEH OF CLERKS AMD TASD A O R K B B EMPLOTKP BY MOKTAMA LIVESTOCK AGCTIOSS, Ig i4S
B illin g s *
Yard Workers
F h ll Time
Beseman
B u tte
Glasgow
G re a t
F a lls
Havre
Lewietown
M iles
C ity
M issoula
Sidney
2
6
6-8
7
U
2-6
3 -6
2
5
10-50
15-25
25
20
Yard W orkers
S a le s Dey
Bo
In fo rm a tio n
15-20
15-W
19-20
C lerk s FUll
Time
Ho
In fo rm a tio n
I
2
I
2
2
I - I 4.
I
2
2
C le rk s S a le s
Day
so
In fo rm a tio n
U
U
k
6
k
3
5
3-1*
3
ZO-I4O 10-25
e The o p e ra to r o f th e B illin g # s a l e re fu g e d to g iv e any in fo rm a tio n f o r t h i s s tu d y .
S o u ree i
P e rso n a l in te r v ie w w ith th e s u c tio n o p e r a to r s .
There I e fe e d in g end w a terin g to be done*
Ahen th e s a le s t a r t s ,
e a t t l e have t o be moved I n to th e s a l e r in g and re*penned a f t e r th e y
a r e s o ld .
Some b u y ers want t h e i r e a t t l e fe d and w atered im m ediately
a f t e r th e y go th ro u g h th e s a l e r i n g .
C a ttle were lo a d ed o u t d u rin g
th e s a le a t a l l a u c tio n s e x c e p t B u tte and Glasgow,
On o th e r days th a n s a l e s day th e r e i s c le a n in g and r e p a ir in g
o f y a rd s to be done.
O ften th e r e a r e some c a t t l e l e f t In th e yard
t h a t have to be fed and w a te re d .
p o in ts around th e yard*
o r d ra in e d .
Feed has to be h a u led to c o n v en ien t
O ftw i th e p a rk in g a re a s have to be le v e le d
On s c le e day th e men employed f u l l tim e a re used to
s u p e rv is e th e s a le s day w orkers end t o a s s i s t th e brand in s p e c to r .
The f u l l tim e c l e r i c a l h e lp e r s answer s a l e co rresp o n d en ce and
w r ite l e t t e r * f o r th e p u b lic m arket brand I n s p e c to r ,
Many o f th e
a u c tio n o p e r a to r s b ought c a t t l e In th e co u n try o r had o th e r b u s in e s s
I n t e r e s t s so th e f u l l tim e c le r k had to answer r o u tin e b u s in e s s ques*
tlo n e In th e o p e r a to r ’ s a b se n c e.
On s a le s day th e f u l l tim e c le r k s
u s u a lly s u p e rv ise d th e p a r t tim e w o rk ers and a s s i s t e d when work began
p i l i n g up a t some p o in t.
The u su a l p ro c e d u re was t o have th e s a le s
s l i p w ith th e p r ic e p e r pound, w e ig h t, c o n s ig n o r’ s and p u rc h a s e r’s
nam es, and pen number on i t , go th ro u g h a s e r ie s o f o le r k e ,
The f i r s t
o le rk fig u r e d th e t o t a l p r ic e f o r th e l o t ; th en th e s l i p was given to
e second c le r k who chocked th e f ig u r e s ; n e x t th e s l i p w ent to a t h i r d
c le r k who computed th e oharges a g a in s t th e l o t o f c a t t l e .
The s a le s
s l i p was tak en by a f o u r th o le rk who p o sted th e s a l e , and then a
f i f t h c le r k p o ste d th e p u rc h a se ; f i n a l l y th e s l i p p ro c e ed s to th e
p e rso n who w r ite s th e ohoex to pay th e p ro d u cer fo r th e anim al o r
anim ala#
T ra n s p o rta tio n F a c i l i t i e s a t
"‘M ontana !Livestock Auctions'"*
T ra n s p o rta tio n f a c i l i t i e s d i f f e r from m arket t o m arket*
One
m ark et was s e rv e d by th r e e r a i l r o a d s ; f i v e m ark ets w ere serv ed by
two r a i l r o a d s ; fo u r w ere served by o n ly one ra ilro a d *
T able IV
shows th e number o f r a i l r o a d s , r a i l r o a d and tru c k lo a d in g c h u te s ,
to g e th e r w ith th e p e rc e n t o f c a t t l e d e liv e r e d by r a i l r o a d and by
tru c k *
P ero e n ta g ee o f o a t t i e d riv e n In was shown to com plete th e
d e liv e r y p ic tu re *
D ata in t a b l e IV in d i c a t e a need f o r r e o r g a n is a tio n o f
p h y s ic a l f a c i l i t i e s more in l i n e w ith r e c e ip ts by v a rio u s methods
o f d e liv e ry *
When c a t t l e a r e tru c k e d i n , th e y a r r i v e a s n e ar s a le
tim e a s p o s s ib le , so c o n g e stio n a t lo a d in g ch u tes r e s u lts *
hen
sh ip p ed by r a i l . I t i s a g e n e ra l p r a c t i c e to have c a t t l e in th e y ard s
te n o r tw e lv e ho u rs b e fo re th e sa le *
E ig h t o f th e a u c tio n o p e ra to rs b e lie v e d tr u c k s b ro u g h t an im als
i n lo o k in g th e b e s t ; one b e lie v e d th e r a ilr o a d b e s t ; and one gave no
in fo rm a tio n *
Method o f A ccounting f o r C a ttle
.' ' 'In ‘tk a A u ctio n M arkets '
Montana law r e q u ir e s a l l p u b lic m arket* to p la c e liv e s to c k i n
key lo c k ed pens u n t i l th e y have been in s p e c te d f o r b ran d s and ow nership
TABLE IV.
L o e e tio n
of
A uction
B illin g e
Besemen
B u tte
Olesgow
G re e t F e lls
H erre
Lewistown
M iles C ity
M iseoule
Sidney
S oureei
TSAKSPORTATTOS MB UMLOADIKG FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT 1108TMA AUCTIONS ASB PEHCgST
OF CATTLE HgCSIVSD BT DIFFERENT METHODS OF DSLIVgRT, 1S&6
Mumber o f
B e ilro e d s
S e rv in g
th e
A uction
Eunker
of
R eilro ad
Lomding
Chutee
P e ro e n t
of
C a ttle
Received
by S e ll
Vumber
of
Truck
Loading
Chute#
P e rc e n t
of
C a ttle
Received
by Truck
P e rc e n t
of
C a ttle
D riven to
A uction
2
2
3
I
I
I
I
2
2
I
Mo I n f o r a e tio n
2
10
6
9
I
2
3
b
3
20
50
10
29
10
15
5
19
55
2
3
6
2
I
2
3
U
5
60
50
85
70
60
80
92
80
35
20
O
5
I
30
5
3
I
10
I n s p e e tlo n by th e w r i t e r .
*
&
•
ha# been e s ta b lis h e d *
Zn th e a u c tio n s a le s o f M ontana, th e brand
t e l l e y i s used t o i d e n t i f y th e c a t t l e and p reced es th e liv e s to c k to
th e s a le rin g *
WMle th e anim als a r e b ein g s o ld th e s a l e e l e r k ,
u s u a lly th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r , w r ite s th e number in th e l o t and th e
brand d e s c r ip tio n on th e s a le s s l i p , th en e e id s i t to th e s c a le s .
When th e a n im als a r e w eighed, th e s c a le stam ps th e w eig h t on th e
s a le s t i c k e t , th e t i c k e t I s th e n ta k e n to th e o f f i c e f o r p ro cessin g *
A fte r b e in g w eighed, th e anim als a re ta k e n to th e b u y ers' pen and
lo c k ed In u n t i l d e liv e r e d to th e b u y e r.* *
S p e c u la to rs and D e a le rs i n A uotlon M arkets
The a u c tio n o p e ra to rs re p o rte d v a ry in g numbers o f d e a le rs
and s p e c u la to r s a t th e s a l e s .
The number o f s p e c u la to r s and d e a le r s
f l u c t u a t e s depending upon t h e seaso n o f th e y e a r and c a t t l e p r ic e s .
D ata on number o f s p e c u la to rs and d e a le r s were n e t a v a ila b le from
th e a u c tio n o p e ra to rs b e c a u se i
1.
Mo re c o rd s w ere k e p t.
2.
The a u c tio n s have been c r i t i c i s e d , by fa rm e rs ,
r a n c h e r s , and o t h e r s , f o r b av in a la r g e number
o f s p e c u la to r s p r e s e n t a t t h e i r s a le s end a sm all
number o f d e a le r s .
The term s p e c u la to r as used i n t h i s paper r e f e r s t o th o se
p e rso n s who a tte n d e d s a le s hoping to buy c a t t l e and r e s e l l them im­
m e d ia te ly a t a p r o f i t .
The w r i t e r d is c o v e re d s e v e ra l in s ta n c e s where
11 D ata g a th e re d by in te rv ie w in g a u c tio n o p e r a to r s .
•rrsn g w n e n ta were made w ith th e a u c tio n e e r to s e l l to a s p e c u la to r
b e fo re th e b id d in g reached f u l l m ark et v a lu e o f th e anim als*
An
exam ple o f suoh a c tio n o c c u rre d a t th e B illin g s a u c tio n m arket when
th e w r i t e r was p re s e n t*
The a u c tio n e e r s o ld s e v e ra l l o t s o f c a t t l e
to one o f th e r e g u la r ly a tte n d in g s p e c u la to r s a t ab o u t th r e e c e n ts
under m arket p rio e w h ile one man In th e a u d ien c e t r i e d to b id on
them*
When a n o th e r l o t went th ro u g h th e rin g * th e man c a lle d o u t
lo u d ly enough to c r e a te an e c h o , b u t th e a u c tio n e e r a ls o so ld t h a t
p a r t i c u l a r l o t o f o a t t l e to th e aame sp e c u la to r*
o n ly th e man and th e s p e c u la to r were b id d in g *
On th e n e x t l o t ,
When th e c a t t l e reached
t h e i r a c tu a l m arket v a lu e , th e man • topped b id d in g , b u t th e a u c tio n e e r
appeared to be ta k in g b id s from th e man and atte m p ted to say he had
p u rch ased th e o a ttle *
Bad th e a u c tio n e e r been s u c c e s s fu l In t h i s
a tte m p t, th e man would have p aid two o r th r e e c e n ts p e r pound above
m arket p r i c e f o r s e v e r a l thousand pounds o f o a ttle *
On th r e e o c c a s io n s ,
each a t a d i f f e r e n t Montana a u c tio n , th e w r ite r saw th e d e a le r s and
s p e c u la to r s look o v e r th e o a t t l e in th e e a le yard j u s t b e fo re tim e
f o r th e c e l l i n g to b eg in *
Then th e y went to a c a fe and d is c u s s e d
what th e y w ere going to pay f o r th e v a rio u s l o t s o f o a t * 'Pt
While
s i t t i n g n e a r th e b u y e rs , th e w r i t e r o v e rh e ard them d is c u s s in g how
many head o f each c la s s each b u y er needed and a g re e in g t h a t th e y
would n o t pay above a c e r ta in p r i c e t h a t day*
m entioned f o r each c l a s s o f liv e s to c k *
A d e f i n i t e p rio e was
C arefu l o b s e r v a tio n f a i l e d
to show any c a se in which th e m entioned p r ic e was exceeded by any o f
th e b u y e rs In th e group*
- 1*6 *
Soae buyer* fo llo w ed th e p r a c t i c e o f buying mixed lo t* o f
e a t t l e end re g ro u p in g them I n to u n ifo rm lo t* f o r re e e le »
G rading,
o r s o r tin g I n to u n ifo rm l o t * , I* e fu n c tio n o f m ark etin g and th e
p erso n p erfo rm in g t h i s s e r v ic e I s e n t i t l e d to a fe e f o r t h i s s e r v ic e .
D e a le rs a re d e fin e d a s th o s e p erso n s buying c a t t l e on o rd e r
f o r o th e r s f o r f a t t e n i n g , g r a t i n g , o r s la u g h te r .
The p erso n b u ying on o rd e r f o r o th e r s mmy do a d ouble
s e rv ic e «
F i r s t , by In c re a s in g th e e f f e c t i v e demand a t an au ctio n *
and seeo n d , by re d u c in g th e c o s t o f th e e a t t l e to th e p e rso n f o r
whoa he b u y s.
The o r d e r buyer u s u a ll y h a s s e v e ra l a c c o u n ts ; he
d iv id e s buying expense among th e s e v e ra l a cc o u n ts In s te a d o f each o f
them h av in g a man a t th e m ale.
G rading and M arket In fo rm a tio n
Lewletown I s th e o n ly a u c tio n m arket which d id n o t r e p o r t
c u r r e n t m ark et in fo rm a tio n o v e r th e r a d i o .
A ll o th e r Montana l i v e ­
s to c k a u c tio n m ark ets re p o rte d a t l e a s t on th e day o f th e sa le #
A ll
a u c tio n s r e p o r t m arket in fo rm a tio n th ro u g h th e lo c a l new spaper and
th e W estern L iv e sto c k R e p o rte r,
In b o th ra d io and new spaper r e p o r tin g , e a t t l e e re graded by
lo c a l s ta n d a rd s which b e a r l i t t l e resem blance to f e d e r a l s ta n d a rd s .
S te e r s w ere re p o rte d a s good g ra in fe d s t e e r s , medium g ra in fed e t e e r e ,
common g r a in fed s t e e r s , good g ra s s fe d s t e e r s , medium g ra s s fed
s t e e r s , common g ra s s fed s t e e r s , good e to e k s t e e r s , medium sto ck
s t e e r s , end common e to ek s t e e r s .
O th e r c la s s e s o f c a t t l e were s i m i l a r l y
g ra d e d .
A ll g ra d in g was done by th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r .
Farm ers and
ra n o h e ra I n d ic a te d a b s o lu te ly no u n ifo rm ity In r e p o r tin g from week
to week.
An example o f th e la c k o f u n ifo rm ity o f g ra d in g oooured
w h ile th e w r i t e r was v i s i t i n g th e a u c tio n s a l e s .
A l o t o f f r e s h ly
branded angus s t e e r s s o ld in an a u c tio n one day and w ere graded as
medium g r a s s fe d s t e e r s .
Two days l a t e r th e same s t e e r s were seen
I n a n o th e r a u c tio n where th e y were graded a s good g ra s s fe d s t e e r s .
Four days l a t e r , th e same s t e e r s were seen a t a t h i r d a u c tio n where
th e y were graded a s good g ra in fe d s t e e r s .
In o rd e r to p re v e n t a wide sp re ad w ith in a g ra d e , c a t t l e
s e l l i n g a t a low f ig u r e were c a lle d th e n e x t low er g ra d e .
In th e a u c tio n s where th e a c tu a l s a le was p u t on th e a i r , i t
was f o r a p e rio d o f f i f t e e n m in u tes o r l e s s .
The y ard w orkers h e ld
back th e b e s t l o t s o f anim als f o r th e tim e on th e a i r .
t o c r e a te a f e e lin g o f a good m arket to th o se l i s t e n i n g .
This ten d ed
In th e one
a u c tio n th e w r i t e r a tte n d e d w hich had a p o rtio n o f th e s a le b ro a d c a s t
th e a u c tio n e e r announced t h a t th e b ro a d c a s t would b e g in i n one m inute
He s a i d , "B id u p , b o y s, we won’t w a it on y o u ."
The f e d e r a l m arket news s e r v ic e employs a man o r men a t
each la r g e m ark et to g rad e liv e s to c k f o r th e m arket news r e p o r ts .
A ll g ra d in g a t te rm in a l m arkets f o r news r e p o r tin g Im done by a
d i s i n t e r e s t e d p a r t y , th e fe d e r a l news r e p o r t e r , and a c c o rd in g to
f e d e r a l l i v e anim al g r a d e s .
This p r a c t i c e g iv e s some u n ifo rm ity to
th e f e d e r a l m arket news r e p o r t s .
A ll a u c tio n m arkets i n Montana,
e x c e p t B i l l i n g s , la c k t h i s u n ifo r m ity a s g ra d in g i s done by an In ­
t e r e s te d p e rs o n , th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r , and by s ta n d a rd s t h a t a re n o t
c l e a r l y d e fin e d .
The r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f p ack in g companies say f e d e r a l l i v e
anim al g rad es a re n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y o b je c tiv e to be u sed In buying
■o eaoh company has developed I t e own g rad es and keeps them a s a
tr a d e s e c r e t .
U n til such tim e a s th e f e d e r a l l i v e anim al g ra d e s a re g e n e r a lly
a e e e p te d and each s a le i s re p o rte d to th e farm er o r ra n c h e r by g ra d e ,
w e ig h t, and p r i c e . I t w ill be im p o ssib le to know w hat an anim al would
s e l l f o r in o th e r m a rk e ts , e i t h e r te rm in a l o r l o c a l .
C osts o f M arketing
D ata in t a b l e V show th e number o f c a t t l e s o ld th ro u g h eaoh
Montana a u c tio n m arket in 19U&,
W hile th e w r i t e r does n o t have enough in fo rm a tio n to make any
d e f i n i t e s ta te m e n ts a b o u t s h rin k a g e and f i l l as th e y a f f e c te d Montana
liv e s to o k p ro d u c e rs , th e r e a re s e v e r a l g e n e ra l o b s e r v a tio n s .
Many
Montana liv e s to c k p ro d u c e rs b e lie v e th e r e i s g e n e r a lly a la r g e r s h rin k
in ran g e c a t t l e th a n farm c a t t l e moved th e same d is ta n c e and in th e
•ame m anner.
The l a r g e r s h rin k 1» a t t r i b u t e d to ran g e o a t t l e b e in g
a f r a i d o f people end o f te n b e in g o f a more nervous n a tu r e ,
From ob­
s e r v a tio n s , b u y ers do n o t te n d to b id h ig h e r p e r pound because an im als
a re seen in a shrunk c o n d itio n , b u t do te n d to b id s e v e r a l c e n ts p e r
pound l e s s f o r an im als t h a t show e v id en c e o f e x c e s s iv e f i l l i n g .
TABLE V, SUMBE8 OP CATILE SOLD AT BACK
MONTANA LIVESTOCK AUCTION, 19W>
B il l i n g s
168,1*80
Havre
17,292
Boseaan
29,1*78
Lew istoen
27,530
B u tte
50,659
M iles C ity
1*7,903
Olaegows
10,526
M issoula
1*0,380
G re a t P a lls
72.958
Sidney
3U.553
s O perated o n ly 7 month*.
Source i
r e c o rd s .
Proa Montana L iv esto ck C om lselon brand in sp e c tio n
50
Some farm er* and d e a le r s fo llo w th e d e c e p tiv e p r a c tic e o f
g iv in g s a l t to c a t t l e j u s t b e fo re s t a r t i n g to m arket so th e c a t t l e
w ill d rin k a la r g e q u a n tity o f w a te r and p ick up th e w eig h t o f th e
w ater*
O th ers p u t o a b tle on fe e d th e y l i k e p a r t i c u l a r l y w ell* lu s h
g r a s s , s i l a g e , o r g r a i n , th e day b e fo re th e s a l e .
Buyers u s u a lly
re e o g n is e t h i s ru s e and f r e q u e n tly b id l e s s p e r pound so th e p erso n s
fo llo w in g t h i s p r a c tic e lo s e th e feed and may g e t l e s s p e r pound f o r
th e anim al than th e y would have g o tte n had i t n o t been f i l l e d .
B ecause some anim als a re f i l l e d and c o n se q u e n tly s h rin k v e ry h e a v ily ,
b u y ers h e s i t a t e to pay a l l t h a t c a t t l e a re w o rth .
B ru is in g I s e s tim a te d to have c o s t th e American b e e f in d u s try
$ 8 ,2 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n 1 9 3 5 * ^
Zhe m eat in d u s tr y has grown s in c e 1935 end n e t
many improvem ents have been made to red u ce b ru is in g *
The te rm in a l
sto c k y a rd s d is c o n tin u e d u s in g s t i c k s and c lu b s in 1936*
Such i n s t r u ­
m ents a r e s t i l l used i n Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s ,
Montana farm ers and ra n c h e rs w ere re s p o n s ib le f o r some un­
n e c e s s a ry b r u is in g .
They c o n tin u e d to u se hay o r s tra w in bedding
r a i l r o a d c a r s , even though i t h a s been proven t h a t l e a s b r u is in g
r e s u l t s when f lo o r s a re s a n d e d .^^
There was l i t t l e u n ifo rm ity o f s e r v ic e re n d e red by v a rio u s
a u e tio n m ark ets in Montana.
A ll a u c tio n s w ith one e x c e p tio n in c lu d e d
12
A u stin A. Dowell end Knute B jor k a , L iv e sto c k M arketing
(Hew York* MoOraw H ill Book Company, 1 9 U )
----- -------- ----------
15I b l d . , 281.
51
one d a y 's fe e d In th e commission c h a rg e .
But when th e s a le was
crowded so t h a t more than one day was re q u ire d to s e l l th e c a t t l e
p r e s e n t, th e fa rm e r o r ra n c h e r p a id e x tr a fe e d c h a rg e s .
At Glasgow
th e fa rm e r o r ra n c h e r p a id a f l a t p e r day fe e d charge w h eth er th e
anim als were in th e y a rd s two h o u rs o r s e v e ra l d a y s.
W atering
f a c i l i t i e s were p ro v id e d a t a l l a u c tio n s , b u t m ost o f th e a u c tio n s
r e q u ire d th e fa rm e r o r ra n c h e r to do th e w a te rin g .
Montana L iv e sto c k
S a n ita r y Board R eg u latio n 36, p ara g rap h 7 , r e q u ire s t h a t au to m atic
f l o a t c o n tro l o r o th e r a c c e p ta b le c o n tr o l s h a ll be p ro v id ed f o r a l l
w a te r tro u g h s o r ta n k s .
D r. B u tle r , C h ief V e te r in a r ia n o f Montana,
when ta lk in g to th e w r i t e r s ta t e d th e r e was no o th e r " a c c e p ta b le
c o n t r o l " , so th e w a te rin g o f anim als sh o u ld be s ta n d a rd iz e d a f t e r
A p ril 1 0, 19U7, when R eg u latio n 36 became e f f e c t i v e .
A c tu al commission ch arg es v a r ie d w id ely among a u c tio n s .
Table TI show.- th e s e c h a rg e s .
A ll e x c e p t one o f th e Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s charged
com missions on a p e r head b a s i s .
In th o s e m ark ets making a p er head
c h a rg e , th e commission and o th e r c h arg es combined ran g e from #1.35
to # 2.20 p e r head f o r c a t t l e and from #.70 to #1.75 f o r c a lv e s .
In
th e o p in io n o f th e w r i t e r , i t i s im p o ssib le to j u s t i f y t h i s la r g e a
sp re ad on th e b a s is o f s e r v ic e s re n d e red a t th e v a rio u s a u c tio n s .
Two a u c tio n m ark ets d e fin e d any b e e f anim al w eighing more
th a n I4OO pounds as a m ature anim al 1 i f u n d e r IiOO pounds, as a c a l f .
Two o th e r a u c tio n s u sed U50 pounds as a maximum w eig h t f o r a c a l f ,
and f iv e u sed 500 pounds as th e maximum w eig h t f o r a o a l f .
S in ce
TUSLE V I.
A uetion
M arket
Q tktSES PBS HBAD MADE BT MONTANA AOCTIOSS PDS SBLLIRO CATTLB AM) CALVES, 191*6
C orasission
Charge
C a t tle C alves
Yardage
C a t tle C alves
ln e u rsn o e
Sey
per
B ale
Msxlsnn
T o tal S e llin g T o tal S e llin g
W eight
Charge on
Charge on
f o r C alves
C a ttle
Calvea
B illin g *
$1.80
# 1.00
Rone
None
♦ .0 5
I .9 0
500
$ 1 .8 5
$1.05
Boseaan
1.00
.5 0
♦ .3 5
♦.20
None
•65
500
1 .3 5
.7 0
B u tte
1 .7 5
A.15
Hone
None
Sone
1 .7 5
1*50
1 .7 5
1 .1 5
Glasgow
Bene
Rone
.0 5
Sone
6.i*0b
2.80*
G re a t F a lls
3 p e rc e n t o f
s e l l i n g p r ic e
1.00
1 .8 5
.3 5
.3 5
None
U50
2.20
1.3 5
Havre
2 .0 0
1 .7 5
Rone
None
Sone
2.00
500
2.00
1 .7 5
Lewlstown
2.00
1 .5 0
Sone
None
.0 5
1.00
500
2 .0 5
1 .5 5
M iles C ity
1.00
.5 0
.3 5
.3 5
.0 5
1*00
1 . 1*0
.9 0
M issoula
1.60
.9 0
Hone
None
Hone
.30 p e r
dey
1 .5 0
1*00
1 .6 0
•90
Sidney
1.00
.5 0
.3 0
.3 0
.0 5
500
1 .3 5
.85
.5 5 p e re
day
C ost
•3 5 p e r
day
e I h ie a u c tio n charged f o r feed in a d d itio n to o th e r charge#
bBased on an 800 pound e te e r s e l l i n g a t $ 0 .2 5 p e r pound.
eBased on a U00 pound e a l f s e l l i n g a t $0.20 p e r pound.
S ouroet
In te rv ie w w ith a u c tio n o p e r a to r s .
>G
1
53
Montana p ro d u c e rs s e l l i n g c a lv e s o fte n s e l l a t around 500 pounds,
th e e x a c t maximum w e ig h t may have made a s u b s t a n t i a l d if f e r e n c e In
th e amount o f t h e i r s a le c h a rg e s .
W ith th e p r e s e n t system o f m ark et news r e p o r t i n g , i t would
be m ost d i f f i c u l t f o r th e fa rm e rs to e s tim a te what th e s e l l i n g ch arg es
a t an a u c tio n u s in g p e rc e n t o f s a le c h arg e would be f o r an im als th e y
m ig h t w ish to s e l l .
A ll ch arg es a re p u b lis h e d i n th e s c h e d u le s o f
s e l l i n g c h a rg e s , e x c e p t bran d in s p e c tio n , which i s a fe e p re s c rib e d
by S ta te law .
Charges f o r S e llin g C a t tle in a Term inal M arket
When c a t t l e have a r r iv e d a t a te rm in a l m a rk e t, th e firm to
I
w hich th e anim als a re consigned ta k e s com plete c h a rg e .
a r e u n lo a d e d , penned, f e d , w a te re d , and s o l d .
f e e p e r head co v ers th e h a n d lin g .
The c a t t l e
A d e f i n i t e s p e c if ie d
Peed i s charged a c c o rd in g to pub­
lis h e d sc h e d u le s and anim als a re h an d led w ith th e Id e a o f k eeping
sh rin k a g e to a minimum.
Table V II shows th e s e l l i n g c h arg es a t
s e le c te d te rm in a l m a rk e ts , a s ta k e n from ch arg e sch e d u le s in fo rc e
December ) 1 , I 9 I46.
Tables V III to XV g iv e th e c h arg es f o r f r e i g h t , f e e d , fe e d in g ,
and w a te rin g en r o u te .
These t a b l e s w ere based upon f r e i g h t r a t e s
and fe e d c h arg es in e f f e c t December 51, 19U6.
When d e c id in g w h eth er to send c a t t l e to a te rm in a l m arket o r
to s e l l l o c a l l y , t h e r e were many f a c t o r s to c o n s id e r.
For Montana
fa rm e rs and ra n c h e r s , one o f th e m ost im p o rta n t f a c t o r s i s th e number
TABLE V II.
Market
GRASSES PER READ FOR SELLISG CATTLE ASD CALm IS SELECTED TSRPISAL MARKETS. 19^6
Commission
Charges
Yardage
Charges
p e r Bead
C a ttle
C alves
P ra irie
Hay p e r
100
Pounds
A lf a lf a
Hay p e r
100
Pounds
Com
per
Bushel
Bedding
per
100
Pounds
fe ta l
S e llin g
Chcxgea
p e r Head
Chicago
$ .7 0
$ .6 5
$.1*0
$1.90
$2.55
$2.1*5
$1.55
$1.92
Denver
.6 5
.lt5
.3 0
2 .0 5
2 .0 5
2 .1 5
1 .0 5
1 .72
F arg o , S . Dak.
•70
.1*5
.3 0
1 .1 0
1 .2 5
1 .1 0
.7 5
1.1*8
Lee A ngeles
.8 5
.5 0
.3 6
2 .1 5
2 .2 5
1.7 5
2.21
S a l t Lake C ity
• 58
.3 5
W
e
2 .1 0
2.1 0
1 .1 0
1 .5 6
San F ra n c isc o
.9 5
.6 5
.3 5
2 .1 0
2 .7 0
1 .5 5
2.1*1*
S ioux C ity
.8 0
.5 0
.3 5
1.90
1 .9 5
1 .70
.8 5
1 .8 7
S o. S t . Paul
.7 0
.1*5
.3 0
1 .1 0
1 .6 5
1.5 0
1.1 0
1.1*8
S ouroei
S ehedulee o f c h arg es from th e sto c k y a rd s com panies.
2 .6 6
I
*
TABLE V I I I .
A0PSOXiaATS S H IPPIBO CHARGES POS AN EIGHT HUNDRED POUND YEARLING STEER IS
CARLOAD Lore PB3M BILL ISO S, MONTANA, TO SELECTED TERMINAL MARKETS, 19U6
S e rv ic e
Charge f o r
U nloading
and
R eloading
Sent#
S e rv ic e
Charge f o r
W atering
and
Feeding
C ents
Cost o f
Hay
E nroute
D o lla rs
Shipping
Cost
p er Head
A o lla ra
F re ig h t
D o lla rs
Feed
S to p s
Number
Chicago
6 .8 8
2
Us6
lt,6
1.0 8
8.05
Omaha
5» Wt
2
U*6
U.6
1 .0 8
6.61
P o rtla n d
6 .5 6
I
2*3
2 .3
•5 4
7 .1 5
S e a ttle
6.72
I
2 .3
2 .3
.5 4
7.31
Sioux C ity
5 .3 6
2
lt*6
U .6
1 .0 8
6 .5 3
S e . S t . Paul
5» Wt
I
2 .3
2 .3
.5 4
6 .0 )
Spokane
U. 96
O
0 .0
0 .0
.0 0
4 .9 6
M arket
S ources
S a te s and f e e d s t o p s s u p p lie d by G reat S o r th e r a end N orth ern P a e l f l e R a ilr o a d s .
TABLE IX . APPROXIMATE S liIP P IS C CHARGES FOR AN EIGHT HUNDRED POUND YEARLING STBBR IN
CARLOAD LOTS FROM BOZEMAN, MONTANA, TO SELECTED TERMINAL MARKETS, 1 9 ^ 6
F r e ig h t
D o lla rs
Peed
S to p s
Number
U orrico
Charge f o r
U nloading
and
R eloading
C ents
Chicago
>5?
2
1*#6
Omaha
6.1*8
3
6 .9
6 .9
1 .6 2
P o rtla n d
6.1*8
I
2 .3
2 .3
*54
7 .0 6
S e a ttle
6 .0 8
I
2 .3
2 .3
•5 4
6 .6 ?
Sioux C ity
6 .0 8
2
U .6
1*#6
1 .0 8
7*2$
So. S t . Paul
6 .1 6
2
!*.6
!*.6
1.0 8
7 .3 3
Spokane
W 2
O
0 .0
0 .0
.0 0
4 .3 2
M arket
S erv iee
Charge f o r
W atering
end
Feeding
Cents
E n ro u tea
D o lla rs
Shipping
Cost
p e r Head
D o lla rs
lt»6
1 .0 8
8.6 9
8 .2 4
#
%
'
C ost o f
aBased on an av erag e hay consum ption o f f o r t y pounds.
Source*
R ates and fe e d s to p s su p p lie d by G reat N o rth ern and N orthern P a c if ic R a ilro a d s.
TABLE X. APPROXIMATE SHIPPING CHARGES FOfi AN EIGHT EJNDfiED POUND TEABLIKO STSEH IK
CABLOAD LOTS PHOM BUTTE, MOKTASA, TO SELECTED TEHKIKAL KAIXETS, 191*6
F r e ig h t
D o lla rs
Peed
S to p s
Number
S e rv ie e
Charge f o r
U nloading
and
R eloading
C ents
S e rv ic e
Charge f o r
W atering
and
Feeding
C ents
C ost o f
Hsy
E nroute
D o lla rs
S hipping
Cost
p e r Head
D o lla rs
Chicago
8 .0 0
3
6.9
6.9
1 .6 2
9.76
Omaha
6 .8 8
3
6.9
6.9
1 .6 2
8. 6U
P o rtla n d
5*66
I
2.3
2.3
• 5U
6. 2$
S e a ttle
5.60
I
2.3
2.3
• 5U
6.1 9
Sioux C ity
6 .U8
3
6.9
6.9
1 .6 2
8 . 2U
S o. S t . Paul
6 .5 6
2
U. 6
U. 6
1.08
7.73
Spokane
3.76
0
0 .0
0 .0
.0 0
3.76
M arket
e B ased on an a v e r a g e hay con su m p tion o f f o r t y pounds.
Sou rce*
H ates and fe e d s t o p s s u p p lie d b y G reat N orth ern end N orthern P s o l f l e B a ilr o a d s .
TABLB X I . APPSCXIXATB SHIPPIM a OiAHQBS FOR AS BICBiT HUMDRED POUMD TBASLI810 STESS IH
CASLOAD LOTS PBDiI OSEAT FALLS, MOMTAKA, TO SELECTED TKRHI KAL MAMETS, I 9I46
' "Servi** "
Market
Chicago
Denver
Loe Angeles
Ogden
Omaha
Portland
S a lt Lake C ity
San Franciseo
S e a t t le
Sioux C ity
S o. S t . Paul
Spokane
Freight
D o llars
7.92
6.00
8.52
U.30
6.72
5-60
4.96
7.92
5.60
6.52
6. Ua
U.2U
Peed
Stops
Huxker
2
2
3
I
3
I
I
3
I
2
2
O
' ' .... 6*rrl6e '
Charge fo r
Unloading
and
Reloading
Cents
Charge fo r
Watering
and
Feeding
Cents
U*6
U»6
6.9
2.3
6.9
2.3
2.3
6.9
2.3
U.6
U.6
0.0
U.6
U»6
6.9
2.3
6.9
2.3
2.3
6.9
2.3
U.6
U.6
0.0
Cost o f
Hay
Bsroute
D o lla rs
1.08
1.08
1.62
•5U
1.62
•5U
•5U
1.62
• 5U
1.08
1.08
.00
Shipping
Cost
per Head
D ollars
9.09
7.17
10.08
5.39
3. Ud
6.19
5.55
9.68
6.19
7.U9
7.65
U.2U
a Baeed on an a v e r a g e h ey co n » u * p tio n o f f o r t y p o u n d s.
S o u rces
S a te s and fe e d s t o p s s u p p lie d b y G reat N orth ern and N orth ern P a o i f i e R a ilr o a d s .
TABLE XIIe APFBDXIWAfB SHIPPISd CHARGES FOR AS BIGHT HUNDRED pOJSD YEARLING STEER IS
CARLOAD LOTS FROM HAVRE, MONTANA, TO SELECTED TERMINAL MARKETS, 19^6
M arket
F re ig h t
Denver
Loe A ngeles
Ogden
P o rtla n d
S a l t Lake C ity
Sen P re n c isoo
Sioux C ity
S o . S t . Paul
Spokane
6 .5 2
8.72
5*36
6.08
5.52
8.32
5.92
5.68
I+.61*
Feed
S to p s
2
3
2
I
2
3
I
I
O
S e rv ic e
Charge f o r
U nloading
and
Reloading
S e rv ic e
Charge f o r
C a te rin g
and
Feeding
Cost o f
Hey s
E nroute
S hipping
Coet
p e r Heed
U.6
6.9
U.6
2*3
U.6
6.9
2.3
2.5
0.0
U.6
6.9
U.6
1 .0 8
1 .6 2
1.08
7.69
10.U8
6.53
6,67
6,69
2 .3
U.6
6.9
2.3
2.3
0.0
• 5U
1 .0 8
1.62
*5U
•5U
.00
10.08
6.51
6.27
U.6U
a Bssed on an av erag e hay consum ption o f f o r ty pounds*
S o u ro ei
R ates and feed s to p s su p p lie d by G reat N o rth ern and N o rth ern P a c if ic R a ilro a d s ,
TABLE X I I I . APPROXIMATE SHIPPING CHARGES FOB AK EIGHT HUNDRED POCND YEARLING STBBfi IN
CASLOAD LOTS FROM MILES CITY, MONTANA, TO SELECTED TESMINAL IiAiXSTS. I 9 I4 6
Market
Plrelght
b o ile r s
Feed
Stops
Number
S erv ice
Charge fo r
Unloading
and
Reloading
dents
S erv ice
Charge fo r
Watering
and
Feeding
dents
Chicago
6.21*
I
2.3
2.3
Oswha
5.12
2
U .6
Portland
7.28
2
S e a t t le
7.36
Sioux C ity
Cost o f
Hay
Enroute
D o lla rs
Shipping
Cost
per Head
D ollars
• 5U
6.83
U .6
1.08
6.29
U.6
U.6
1.08
8.U5
2
U .6
U.6
1.08
8.55
U.T2
I
2.3
2.3
*5U
5.31
So. S t . Paul
I*.83
I
2.3
2.3
•5U
5.U7
Spokane
5.60
I
2.3
2.3
-5U
6.19
ftBMad on sn average hay eonsueptlon o f fo r ty pounds.
S ou rce*
S a te s and f e e d s t o p s s u p p lie d by G reat N orth ern and N orth ern P a e l f l o Sal I r o a d s .
TABLE X IV . APPROXIMATE SRIPPIRG CHARGES FOR AS EIGHT HUNDRED POUND YEARLING STEER IN
CARLOAD LOTS FROM MISSOULA, MONTANA, TO SELECTED T K m N A L MAMETS, I 9I46
Market
Freight
D o lla rs
Feed
Stops
Number
S e r v ice
Charge fo r
Unloading
and
Reloading
Cents
S erv ice
Charge fo r
Watering
and
Feeding
Cents
Cost o f
Hay s
Enroute
D ollars
Shipping
Cost
per Head
D o lla rs
Chloego
8.1*0
3
6 .9
6 .9
1.6 2
1 0 .1 6
Omaha
7 .2 8
3
6 .9
6 .9
1.6 2
9.02*
Portland
5 .1 2
I
2 .3
2 .3
•5U
5.7 1
S e a tt le
5.28
I
2 .3
2 .3
•5U
5 .8 7
Sioux C ity
6 .8 8
3
6 .9
6 .9
1 .6 2
8 .6 6
S o. S t . Paul
6.96
2
4 .6
U.6
1.08
8 .1 5
Spokane
5 .2 0
O
0 .0
0 .0
.0 0
3 .2 0
aBased on the average consumption o f fo r ty pounds o f hay per anim al.
Sou roe*
M tes and feed stop s supp lied by Great Northern and Northern P a c ific R ailroads,
TABLE XV. APPflOXiMATB BHIPPISG CHARGES FOR AS EIGHT BDSBSBD POtfHD TEA SLU G STEER IS
CARLOAD LOTS PROM SIDNEY, MOSTANA, TO SELECTED TERMINAL MARKETS, 191*6
Service
Martcet
F reigh t
D olla rs
Feed
Stops
Number
denis
S erv iee
Charge fo r
Watering
and
Feeding
Cents
Cost o f
Hay
Enroute
D oifare
Shipping
Cost
per Head
D o lla rs
Charge fo r
Unloading
and
Reloading
Chicago
6.16
2
i*#6
U.6
1 .0 8
7 .3 3
,
Omaha
5-36
2
U.6
U.6
1 .0 8
6.33
R
Portland
7.92
2
U.6
U.6
1 .0 8
9 .0 9
S e a t t le
7.92
2
I*.6
U.6
1 .0 8
9 .0 9
Sioux C ity
U.96
I
2.3
2.3
•5U
5.55
S o . S t . Paul
U.6U
I
2.3
2.3
•5U
5.23
Spokane
6.16
I
2.3
2.3
*5U
6.75
aB sse d on an a v e r a g e h ay consum ption o f f o r t y p ou nd s.
S o u rces
R ates and fe e d s t o p s s u p p lie d b y G reat N orth ern and N orthern P e o i f l o R a ilr o a d s .
• 6) m
h« hee to s o il*
F reigh t r a te s are so arranged th a t th ey are p ro h ib it
^or ! • • • than a carload lo t#
At c e r ta in tim es o f th e year —
sp rin g and e a r ly summer — mixed l o t s s e l l w e ll; a t o th er tim es —
f a l l and w in ter — uniform l o t s return a premium#
The q u estion o fte n
a r is e s , should a producer s e l l a sm all uniform l o t , say a truck lo a d ,
lo o e lly ; or should be s e l l a oarload o f mixed c a t t l e a t a term inal
market#
When d ecid in g which course to fo llo w , th e producer should
remember th e u n r e lia b ilit y o f th e market news as reported by a u c tio n s.
To know how much c a t t l e o f a d e f in it e grade are b r in g in g , th e producer
raue^ v i s i t the a u ctio n and watch anim als s e l l .
The farmer or rancher
oazmot be c e r ta in th a t the anim als w i l l b rin g th e same amount sev e r a l
hours or days la t e r when h is animals w i l l s e l l .
The long r a il haul
to term inal markets in c r e a se s th e s e l l i n g charges by in crea sed tra n s­
p o r ta tio n and in crea sed shrinkage#
Most ranchers qu estion ed agree
th a t the lo n g er c a t t l e are in t r a n s i t , the g rea ter th e shrinkage.
Terminal market news i s based on U nited S ta te s Departmmnt o f A gricul­
tu re standards and i s more r e lia b le #
Data in ta b le XVI show th e charges involved in moving an
8 00-pound s te e r in oarload l o t s from s e le c te d p o in ts in Montana to
s e le c te d term inal markets and in s e l l i n g a t th a t market.
Table XVI
i s an e stim a te by the w r ite r and does n o t make any allow ance fo r
shrinkage in t r a n s it nor does i t in clu d e any s p e c ia l f e e s , such as
v e te r in a r y in s p e c tio n , th a t some term in al markets charge.
Table XVI
would n o t be c o rr e ct fo r any c la s s o f c a t t le ex cep t 8 0 0 -pound year­
lin g s t e e r s .
A ll c a t t l e vary in h a b its o f e a tin g , p a r tic u la r ly w h ile
TABLE XVI.
Chicago
TOTAL SELLING CHARGES FOH AN EIGHT HUNDRED POUND YEARLING STEER
AT SELECTED TEBfINAL MARKETS, 19U6
Denver
Loe
Angeles
Omaha
S a lt Lake
C ity
San
Franolsoo
Sioux
C ity
So. St*
PMUl
B illin g #
9 .9 7
8 . 1*8
8 . 1*0
7 .1 5
Boserian
10.61
10.10
9 .1 2
8.81
B utte
11.86
10.50
10.11
9 .2 1
Groat F a lls
11.01
Havre
M iles C ity
M issoula
Sidney
Source*
9.U3
12.29
9 .U
12.96
10. &
7.1 1
12.12
9 .3 6
9 .1 3
8 .2 5
1 2 .5 2
8.38
7 .75
8 .7 5
8 .1 5
7 .1 8
6.95
12.08
10.90
10.51
9.61
9 .2 5
9 .3 9
7.1*2
6.71
Rates and feed sto p s supp lied by Great Northern and Northern P a o ifio Railroads*
*
I?
•
65
in t r a n s it .
E ight hundred pound y e a r lin g s te e r s were chosen as an
i l l u s t r a t i o n because Montana farmers and ranchers sh ip many such
anim als and because e stim a te s were obtained from th e Animal Industry
Department, Montana S ta te C o lle g e , on feed consumption in t r a n s it by
t h i s o la e s o f c a t t l e .
Summary
S in ce 1 9 )0 , liv e s to c k a u c tio n m ark ets have in c re a s e d in
number i n M ontana; d a ta shown in t a b l e XX, page 75* in d ic a te s t h a t
th e number o f liv e s to c k handled in each a u c tio n has lik e w is e
i n c r e a s e d .^
Montana law made p ro v is io n f o r lic e n s in g a u c tio n m ark ets in
1953»
R ev isio n was made o f t h i s law in 1935*
The laws o f 1933 and
1 9 )5 a ls o empower th e Montana L iv e sto c k S a n ita r y Board to re q u ire
a u c tio n m a rk e ts to comply w ith c e r t a i n s a n it a r y r e g u la tio n s .
The Montana L iv e sto c k S a n ita r y Board has been handicapped
by a la c k o f o p e ra tin g funds and c o n se q u e n tly a Iao k o f t r a in e d p e r­
so n n el f o r making s a n i t a r y in s p e c tio n s and e n fo rc in g s a n it a r y r e g u la ­
t i o n s a t th e a u c tio n m a rk e ts.
The s c a le s a t Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n s a r e , w ith th e excep­
t i o n o f th e Boseman m a rk e t, lo c a te d so t h a t th e p eo p le s e a te d in th e
s a le p a v ilio n c an n o t see anim als w eighed.
At th e Bozeman a u c tio n
Inform ation taken from th e annual rep ort o f brand in sp ec­
t io n s published by th e Montana L iv e s to c k Commission.
66
n o t more th a n o n e - th ir d o f th e p e o p le s e a te d in th e p a v ilio n can
s e e th e sca le *
A ll w eighm asters a t Montana a u c tio n s a re employed by th e
a u c tio n m arket and s u b je c t t o d is m is s a l by th e a u c tio n m anager.
There i s some ev id en ce o f c o llu s io n betw een b u y e rs and
a u c tio n m anagers a t c e r t a i n Montana liv e s to c k au ctio n s*
The Montana liv e s to c k a u c tio n p ro v id e s a lo c a l m ark et where
more th a n one b u y e r can b id on th e a n im a ls o f f e r e d f o r s a l e .
I h is
i s im p o rta n t t o th e man h av in g l e s s th a n a c a rlo a d o f liv e s to c k
fo r s a le .
Recommendatione
1.
!Bie Montana L iv e s to c k S a n ita r y Board should
s t r i c t l y e n fo rc e t h e i r r e g u la tio n r e q u ir in g
ad eq u ate d ra in a g e o f a u c tio n y a r d s .
2.
A w eighm aster shou ld be em ployed, f o r each
a u c tio n m a rk e t, by th e S t a t e , p r e f e r a b ly
u n d e r S ta te c i v i l s e r v ic e .
3.
A ll w eighm asters a t a u c tio n m ark ets should be
s u b je c t to d is m is s a l o n ly by th e s t a t e and o n ly
f o r in e f f ic ie n c y o r n e g le c t o f d u ty .
)(„
A ll w eighm asters should be r e s p o n s ib le f o r th e
m aintenance and c le a n lin e s s o f t h e i r s c a le s .
5.
The s t a t e s c a le in s p e c to r s sh o u ld make f r e ­
q u en t unannounced acc u ra cy checks o f a l l
a u c tio n s c a le s .
6.
The Montana l e g i s l a t u r e sh o u ld e n a c t a law
r e q u ir in g th e s c a le beam t o be v i s i b l e from
th e s a le p a v ilio n .
7.
The Montana L iv e sto c k Commission should r e ­
q u ir e a l l a u c tio n s to p ro v id e s u f f i c i e n t
67
unloading f a c i l i t i e s to permit trucks to unload
w ithout w a itin g in l i n e .
8.
the Montana L ivestock S a n ita ry Board should
req uire a l l au ction markets to empty and d is in ­
f e c t a l l feed bunks and w ater troughs a f t e r
each s a le .
9.
The Montana L ivesto ck S a n ita ry Board should
req u ire a l l yards and pens used during each
s a le to be cleaned a f t e r th e s a le .
10.
A complete study o f th e operatin g c o s ts o f
a u ctio n s should be made.
11.
A complete study o f comparative c o s t s , in c lu d in g
shrinkage l o s s e s , between term inal and Montana
auction markets should be made.
1 2.
A complete study o f comparative n e t p r ic e s
r e c e iv e d , fo r variou s c la s s e s o f liv e s to c k so ld
by Montana farmers and ran ch ers, between Montana
au ction markets and term inal markets should be
made.
- 68
PART IV.
FARMER OPINIONS CONCERNING LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS
Method o f S e le c tin g Sample
Farmers and ranchers who were to r e c e iv e q u estio n n a ires were
s e le c te d by drawing from a l i s t o f add resses m aintained by th e o f f i c e
o f th e S ta te S t a t i s t i c i a n in H elena, Montana,
This l i s t was one o f
farmers and ranchers who have answered q u estio n n a ires in th e p a st.
No a tte m p t was made to s e l e c t liv e s to c k p ro d u c e rs b e ca u se a l l s iz e s
and ty p e s o f farm s and ran ch es w ere d e s ir e d f o r t h i s s tu d y .
Ques­
t i o n n a i r e s w ere m a iled t o 1 ,8 8 5 Montana farm ers and ra n c h e rs .
This
was ro u g h ly f i v e p e rc e n t o f a l l Montana farm ers and ra n c h e rs who
numbered 3 7 ,7 itf a c c o rd in g to th e 191+5 A g r ic u ltu r a l C ensus.
A copy
o f th e q u e s tio n n a ir e i s in c lu d e d i n th e Appendix.
Of th e 1 ,8 8 5 q u e s tio n n a ir e s m a ile d , 1*29 were r e tu r n e d , o f
w hich 393 were com plete enough to be u s a b le .
The a c tu a l r e tu r n s con­
s t i t u t e 1 .1 6 p e rc e n t o f a l l farm ers and ra n c h e rs i n M ontana.
The q u estio n n a ires were returned from farmers and ranchers
who had personal knowledge o f th e ten lic e n s e d liv e s t o c k au ction s in
Montana.
These were lo c a te d a t M issoula, Bosemen, B i l l i n g s , M iles
C ity , S id n ey, Glasgow, Havre, Great F a l ls , L iv in g sto n , and B utte.
There was a sm all a u c tio n a t Hamilton which sold used household goods
and farm equipment.
I t was reported th a t t h i s a u ction has sold some
liv e s t o c k in the p a s t.
S in ce Hamilton was not lic e n s e d by th e Montazui
- 69 -
L lveetook Conidaelon I t erne n o t lnelu ded In t h is e n e ly e la o f liv e a to o k
a u e tlo n e.
S le e o f Farna In Sample
Data In ta b le ZVrXZ Bhow number o f reepondenta u sin g th e
a u ctio n ae a p r in c ip a l method o f a a le , u sin g lo c a l buyers ae th e ir
p r in c ip a l method o f a a l e , and ualng o u t - o f - s t a t e consul a s i on firm s
as p r in c ip a l methods o f a a le as c l a s s i f i e d by e ls e o f farm operated.
Deta In ta b le ZVIXX show a grouping o f respondents by num­
b ers o f c a t t l e s o ld in 19!*6, th o se u sin g th e a u ctio n as a p r in c ip a l
method o f s a l e , th ose u sin g lo c a l buyers a s p r in c ip a l method o f s a l e ,
and th e s e u sin g o u t - o f - s t a t e commission companies a s p r in c ip a l method
o f s a le .
Only U percent o f those u sin g the a u ctio n as t h e ir prin­
c ip a l method o f s a le were operators s e l l i n g more than 150 head.
The
q u estio n on method o f marketing fu rth e r stren gth en s th e w r ite r ’ s
b e l i e f th a t th e em ail op erato r, from th e stan d p oin t o f c a t t l e num­
b e r s , was the person n o et I n te r e ste d in th e liv e a to o k a u ctio n .
D letapoe to an A uction Market
Of th e farmer# and ranchers returning t h i s q u estio n n a ir e,
112 reported a d ista n c e to an a u ctio n market o f between I and 37
m ile s 1 11*2 between 38 and J k m ile s f 22 between 75 and 111 m ile s 1 and
5 g r ea ter than 112.
Thle would in d ic a te th a t a l l are w ith in trucking
d is ta n c e , 200 m iles or l e e s , o f an a u ction market.
USLB V T tl, CLASSIFICATION, BY SIZE OF FAfiM, OF FARMER QUESTIONNAIRES INCLUDING
THOSE USING AUCTION MARKETS, LOCAL BUYERS, AND OUT OF STATE COMMISSION
COMPANIES AS THEIR PRINCIPAL METHOD OF MARKETING
Montana 19l*6
A ll
Q uestion­
n a ir e s
A u ctio n
Used as
P r in c ip a l
Method o f
S a le
L ocal
Buyers Used
a s P r in c ip a l
Method o f
S a le
Out o f S ta te
Commission
Companies Used
as P r in c ip a l
Method o f S a le
No Report
of
P r in c ip a l
Method
o f S ale
L ess th a n 6J9
105
56
20
15
14
6I4O - 1,279
75
31
14
12
18
1,280 - 2 ,599
81
U3
20
4
14
2 ,560 - 6,999
82
38
11
11
22
6 , ItOO and more
59
21
10
5
3
No r e p o r t o f a c re s
o p e ra te d
11
h
4
1
2
593
193
79
A cres
O perated
T o tal
Source*
to
73
Three hundred n i n t y - th r e e q u e s tio n n a ir e s re tu rn e d by Montana farm ers and ra n c h ers
TABLE X V III. CLASSIFICATIOIF, BT HUMBER OF CATTLE SOLD, OF FARMER QDESTIOMAIRES INCLUDING
THOSE USIHG AUCTION MAffiETS, LOCAL BUYEIB, AND OUT OF STATE COMMISSION
COMPANIES AS E E IR PRINCIPAL MEffiOD OF MAffiETING
Montana 19W»
Number
of
C a ttle
A ll
Q uestion­
n a ir e s
Number P e rc e n t
A uction
Used as
P r in c ip a l
Method o f
S a le
Number P e rc e n t
L ocal
B uyers Used
as P r in c ip a l
Method o f
S a le
Number P e rc e n t
Out o f S ta te
Commission
Companies Used
as P r in c ip a l
Method o f S ale
Number P e rc e n t
No R eport
of
P r in c ip a l
Method
o f S a le
Number P e rc e n t
1 -1 4 9
23U
59
113
58
57
63
18
50
1*6
63
5 0 -9 9
77
20
Ui
22
IU
16
8
22
IU
19
100 - 1I49
22
6
12
6
2
2
U
11
U
5
150 and more
18
k
10
U
5
6
I
3
2
3
No answer o r no
c a ttle
J42
11
18
10
12
13
5
IU
7
10
T o ta l
593
100
19U
100
90
100
36
100
73
100
Source*
Three hundred n i n t y - th r e e q u e s tio n n a ir e s re tu rn e d by Montana farm ers and ra n c h e rs .
• 72 *
Return# Haoelved from Auction Uarketi
Two hundred n in e ty o f th e 395 farm er# end ra n c h er# r e p o r tin g
e x p re sa ed th e b e l i e f th e r e would be an in c re a s e in number o f a u c tio n
m arket# d u rin g th e n e x t f iv e y e a rs*
Of th e 290 r e p o r t# , 155 had u sed
th e a u c tio n m arket a s th e p r in c ip a l method o f s e l l i n g liv e s to c k in
19^6,
S ix ty -tw o fa rm e rs and ra n c h er# d id n o t b e lie v e th e r e would be
an in c r e a s e in number o f liv e s to c k a u c tio n s , end
d id n o t e x p re ss
« i o p in io n .
Two hundred s ix te e n o f th e fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs b e lie v e d
a d d itio n a l liv e s to c k a u c tio n s would in c r e a s e r e tu r n s to Montana
fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs .
Of th e 216 e x p re s s in g th e b e l i e f t h a t r e tu r n s
would be in c r e a s e d , 119 re p o rte d u s in g th e a u c tio n ae t h e i r main method
o f s e l l i n g liv e s to c k In 19U6,
One hundred tw e n ty -s ix b e lie v e d more
a u c tio n s would n o t in c r e a s e r e t u r n s , and 1*6 d id n o t e x p re ss an o p in io n .
In p e rc e n ta g e s , 55 p e rc e n t b e lie v e d more a u c tio n s w ill in c r e a s e re ­
tu r n s ; 55 p e rc e n t b e lie v e d in c r e a s in g numbers o f a u c tio n s would n o t
in c r e a s e r e t u r n s | and 12 p e rc e n t d id n o t e x p re ss an o p in io n .
Two hundred s e v e n ty - f iv e o f th e 395 fa rm e rs and ra n c h e r s , o r
70 p e r c e n t, b e lie v e d , "on th e a v e r a g e ,” a u c tio n m ark ets would b rin g
h ig h e r n e t r e tu r n s to Montana fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs th a n any o th e r
method o f m a rk e tin g l i v e s to c k .
Only 155 o f th e 275 re p o rte d u s in g
th e a u c tio n m arket ae t h e i r p rim ary method o f s a le *
S e v e n ty -fo u r o f
th e 395 fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs r e p o r tin g d id n o t b e lie v e th e a u c tio n
m ark et would ” on th e av erag e” b rin g h ig h e r n e t r e tu r n s th an any o th e r
sw thod o f m a rk e tin g l i v e s t o c k .
F O rty -fo u r d id n o t e x p re s s an o p in io n
- 73 -
o r q u a l i f i e d t h e i r answ er i n suoh a way as to make c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
im p o ssib le*
!h e re w ere 77» o r 20 p e r c e n t, more farm ers who b e lie v e d t h a t
th e a u c tio n "on th e average" would in c r e a s e r e tu r n s to Montana farm ers
and re a o h e rs than b e lie v e d more a u c tio n s were needed*
Suoh a p e r­
c e n ta g e In d ic a te d th e th in k in g o f th e s e fa rm e rs was t h a t th e r e sh o u ld
be c o n s id e ra b le c a u tio n e x e rc is e d when g ra n tin g p e rm its fo r new
a u c tio n s*
I n te n tio n s to Osc A uction M arkets
D ata in t a b l e XIX show th e number o f farm ers end ra n c h e rs
r e p o r tin g th e a u c tio n m ark et w ith whloh th e y were moet f a m ilia r ;
combined w ith t h e i r e x p re sse d i n t e n t i o n to m arket a l a r g e r , s m e lle r ,
o r th e same p e rc e n t o f c a t t l e in 19U7l as compared w ith th e number
o f c a t t l e s o ld th ro u g h th e a u c tio n in 1946*
On th e b a s is o f th e s e
q u e s tio n n a ir e s th e fa rm e rs were s a t i s f i e d w ith th e p r ic e s re c e iv e d
end tre a tm e n t g iv en a t Bcseman, B u tte , G re a t P a l l s , H av re, Glasgow,
and S id n ey ; b u t n o t e n t i r e l y s a t i s f i e d w ith liis s o u la . M iles C ity ,
Lewis tow n, end B illin g s *
The d e c is io n i s c lo s e in th e case o f
Bozeman, s in c e equal p e rc e n ta g e s p la n to u s e i t more end u se i t le e s*
B il l i n g s has 22 p e rc e n t p la n n in g to u s e th e m arket l e e s , compared
w ith 20 p e rc e n t who p la n to u se i t m ore.
The In c re a s e o r d e c re a s e in c a t t l e numbers s o ld through
a u c tio n s in 194,5 and 1946 i s shown by d a ta in t a b l e XX.
Of th e mar­
k e ts t h a t farm ers re p o rte d in te n d in g t o u se l e s s , Lewistown was th e
TABLE XIX. CLASSIFICATION OF 393 FARMER QUESTIONNAIRES SHOWING FARMERS' PLANS TO USE AUCTIONS
FOR A LARGER OR SMALLER PERCENT OF THEIR CATTLE IN 19U7 AS COMPARED TO 191*6
L o c a tio n o f
A uction
Number
R eporting
B illin g s
Bozeman
B u tte
Glasgow
G re a t F a lls
Havre
Lewistown
M iles C ity
M issoula
O ther
Sidney
T o ta l
L a rg e r
Number Percent®
20
17
18
20
18
25
32
37
U2
17
3
3
3
10
5
7
19
6
3
15
36
395
91
23
83
18
16
15
56
20
22
51
Uh
26
Ih
11
S m a lle r
Number Percent®
The Same
Number P e rc e n t*
28
10
9
U
5
22
17
12
13
12
20
50
16
27
8
12
7h
19
18
3
2
2
7
U
11
8
12
2
20
2
21
9
12
3U
55
57
27
U3
35
18
31
UB
35
28
8
5
12
10
2U
11
12
Uo
27
20
00
16
11
U6
2U
IbU
37
8U
21
2h
I
h
16
a P e ro e n t o f fa rm e rs r e p o r tin g each m arket as t h e i r p r in c ip a l method o f s a le
Source*
No
In fo rm atio n
Number P e rc e n t*
Q u e stio n n a ire s re tu rn e d by Montana fa n n e rs and ra n c h e rs .
2
6
15
U
O
75
TABLE XX. CHANOE IH VOLOME OF SALES IH MONTANA
LIVEiiTOCK AUCTIONS 19WW*5 - 19U5-U6
L ocation
of
A uction
in c r e a se
I 9^5 ever
B illin g s
Decrease
in c r ea se
Decrease"
19U5 over
19a
1 9 a over
19U5
19i»6 ever
191*5
2,815
12.259
288
8.555
Bozeman
1.592
27.332
Great F a lls
9.300
10,1*1*7
Havre
8,077
1.071*
Lewistown
3.092
6,1*00
M iles C ity
1.198
75
Butbe
Glasgow6
1*62
M issoula
Sidney
U.U92
6,762
*
159
aBogan op eration In 19i*6*
Souroei
reco rd s.
Montana L ivestock Commission brand in s p e c tio n
- 76 •
o n ly one t h a t has shown a s te a d y ln e r e a s e d u rin g th e p a s t two y e a r s . 1
The Lewlstown m arket was opened In 1939 and has changed owners a t
l e a s t f i r e tim es in th e seven y e a rs I t has been o p e r a tin g .12
The M iles C ity m arket was lo s in g p o p u la r ity from two c a u s e s i
The more im p o rta n t b e in g th e muddy co n d itio n o f th e y ard s th e second
re a so n was bad s e l l i n g p r a c tic e s which were th e r e s u l t o f Iaok o f
a u c tio n owner and o f a u c tio n o p e r a to r I n t e r e s t in th e s a l e .
The
M iles C ity m arket showed an In c re a s e in s a le s o f o n ly 75 Io 19W
compared w ith 1,198 In c re a s e i n 1945#
19l*6 s im ila r to t h e i r 1945 in c r e a s e .
O th er s a le s made in c r e a s e s In
The s h i f t o f i n t e n t i o n to u se
th o Lewistown m ark et i s e x p la in e d by poor lo c a tio n and poor p l a n t.
S a ilro a d c o n n e c tio n s w ere n o t good from Lewistown t o any te rm in a l
m arket o r fe e d in g a r e a and th e p h y s ic a l la y o u t o f th e s a le s yard was
th e p o o re s t in th e S t a t e .
The problem a t M issoula was one o f p u b lic
r e l a t i o n s betw een o p e ra to r and ra n c h e rs .
Buying and S e llin g P r a c tic e s Used by
Montana A uetlon O p e reto rs ~
Of th e 393 q u e s tio n n a ir e s r e tu r n e d , 234 fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs
knew "from p e rso n a l o b s e rv a tio n " t h a t th e o p e ra to r o r one o f h ie
r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s bought o a t t l e in th e a u e tlo n r in g ; 6 ) d id n o t know;12
1D ata from th e 1944 sad 1945 annual r e p o r ts o f th e Montana
L iv e s to c k Commission,
2
D ata from p e rso n a l in te r v ie w w ith th e o p e r a to r o f th e
Lewlstown a u c tio n .
- V end 96 wtade no re p o rt*
O f th e 25U farm er# and ra n c h e r# r e p o r tin g th e
o p e r a to r o r h i# r e p r e s e n ta tiv e b u ying In h i# own s a l e r i n g , a l l
m arket# in th e S t a t e w ere m en tio n ed , »0 ev id en ce show# t h a t a t tim e#
th e o p e ra to r o f each m ark et bought In h ie male# rin g *
Of th e ques­
tio n n a ir e # r e tu r n e d , 180 (1*6 p e rc e n t) th o u g h t I t a good p r a c tic e f o r
th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r to buy In th e r i n g , I 52 (39 p e rc e n t) th o u g h t i t
a bad p r a c t i c e , and 61 (1 5 p e rc e n t) w ere undecided*
Only 51 fa rm e rs and ra n c h er# re p o rte d knowing th e a u c tio n e e r
to buy In th e r i n g , and 1*0 o f th o s e w ere m oat f a m ilia r w ith a u ctio n #
In w hitit th e o p e ra to r a le o a c te d a# a u c tio n e e r*
F i f t y - t h r e e (13
p e rc e n t) b e lie v e d th e p r a c tic e o f h av in g th e a u c tio n e e r buying In th e
r in g wae good, 281 (72 p e rc e n t) b e lie v e d th l# p r a c tic e to be b a d , and
59 (1 5 p e rc e n t) w ere u n d e cid e d .
Of th e fa rm e rs and ran ch er# r e p o r tin g , 152 e a ld th e a u c tio n
o p e ra to r o f th e s a le th e y knew b e s t bought c a t t l e In th e c o u n try
o r a t o th e r m arket# and r e - s o ld them th ro u g h h ie own s a le rin g *
a u c tio n s were In c lu d e d In abo u t p r o p o r tio n a l num bers,
re p o rte d th e o p e ra to r d id n o t fo llo w t h i s p r a c t i c e .
A ll
SIxfcy-th r e e
Again a l l m ark ets
w ere in c lu d e d in th e r e p o r t .
One hundred s e v e n ty -e ig h t farm er# d id
n o t know o r d id n o t re p o rt*
The p r a c t i c e o f th e o p e ra to r buying in
o th e r p la c e # and s e l l i n g th ro u g h h i# own rin g was b e lie v e d to be a
d e s ir a b le p r a c tic e by 8 2 , 236 b e lie v e d i t an u n d e s ir a b le p r a c tic e
from th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e fa rm e r o r r a n c h e r, and 75 d id n o t e x p re ss
an o p inion*
TB
AdTftatagftg and DlgadTantaRaa
o f LiTftBtockwAuctlona
Each farmer or rancher rep ortin g warn aa'ced to rep ort what
he OORgldered to he th e two g r e a te s t advantages and the two g r e a te s t
d isadvan tages o f liv e s to c k auctions*
S in ce th ese advantages and
disadvan tages were expressed In th e farmer*s or ran ch er's own terms*
co n sid era b le tr o u b le was encountered In d ecid in g upon th e exact
meaning intended by some o f th e answers*
C la s s if ic a t io n o f answers on the two g r e a te s t advantages and
th e two g r e a te s t disadvantages o f liv e s to c k a u ctio n s from th e stand­
p o in t o f Montana farmers and ranchers i s shown in ta b le s XXI and
XXZI*
In ta b le s XXI and XXII a l l answers which did not r e c e iv e f iv e
or more votes* e it h e r as f i r s t or second c h o ic e , were grouped under
"other*"
Advantages so grouped were#
buying as w e ll as s e ll in g ;
p r ic in g based on q u a lity ; high grade a d v e r tisin g ; h elp in g th e com­
munity; end liv e s to c k bein g handled by expert stockmen*
grouped as "other" were#
D isadvantages
n o t understanding the a u ctio n eer; too much
s p e c u la tin g ; liv e s to c k being o f poor q u a lity ; f a ls e s e ll in g ; n o t
s e l l i n g in order receiv ed a t th e market; bad w eighing; and n o t being
a b le to se e w e ll enough in th e ring*
Competition among bidders was ranked as th e g r e a te s t advantage
o f the au ction market by 29 p ercen t o f th o se rep o rtin g advantages*
Having a market always a v a ila b le and more buyers b id d in g . Including
o u t - o f - s t a t e buyers* was reported by IiO farmers as th e g r e a te s t
advantage*
- 79
XXI* CLASSinCATIOS OF AUCTIOS MASKET ADYMTAOES BANKED
F ir s T AND SECOKD BY 393 MONTANA FAKMEB QUBStIOH8AIBBS
TABLB
Advantage
I.
2.
5.
Iu
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
15.
I lu
S e ll to h ig h e s t b id d er, or
com petition among b id d ers.
Always a market a v a ila b le .
Store buyers a v a ila b le and o u t - o f - s t a t e buyers.
Less shrinkage.
Higher p r ic e .
Saves tim e.
Lower or l e s s tr a n sp o r ta tio n ch arges.
Can see c a t t l e s o ld .
Don't have to s e l l u n le ss s a t i s f i e d w ith p r ic e .
Immediate pay fo r s a le .
Cuts out middlemen.
Good replacement market.
Ho answer.
Other.
Souroei
renohers*
Ranked
F ir s t
Ranked
Second
HO
W
I40
55
52
22
18
7
5
U
21
50
15
17
11
9
Ik
I
15
7
5
8
6
70
221
8
16
1
Q uestlonn eires returned by Montane farmers end
80
TABLE XX II. CLASSIFICATION OF AUCTION MABST DISADVANTAOBS RANKED
FIRST AND SECOND BY 393 MONTANA PARMER QUESTIOMKAISKS
D isadvantag e
I.
2.
3.
Iu
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
1 0.
1 1.
1 2.
13.
Hi.
15.
16.
17.
1 8.
No d is a d v a n ta g e s .
Not enough c o m p e titio n .
D is c r im in a tion.
Too f a s t s e l l i n g i n r in g .
Over-crowded s a l e p l a n t s .
H auling and h a n d lin g d i f f i c u l t i e s .
Ho knowledge o f what th e m arket w i l l b e .
Poor s a n i t a t i o n .
High c o s t o f s e l l i n g a t a u c tio n .
Have to ta k e h ig h e s t b id .
D ista n c e t o s a l e .
Too sm all volum e.
Too much h a n d lin g in y a rd s .
Can*t tn a n e e t s to c k .
Not g rad ed .
Brand r e tu r n s to your a r e a .
No answ er.
O th e r.
S o u ro e*
ra n c h e rs .
RanLed
F irs t
Ranked
Second
k9
k6
17
9
6
15
17
7
3
2
17
16
IU
13
13
8
6
5
3
3
3
3
0
0
183
11
I
6
2
2
2
5
5
278
16
Q u e s tio n n a ire s r e tu r n e d by Montana fa rm e rs and
31
!he q u e s tio n o f d ie Sdvantagae o f th e a u c tio n m ark et was n o t
q u ite e o n s ! s te n t w ith th e e x p re ss io n o f th e b e l i e f t h a t more a u c tio n
m a rk e ts would in c r e a s e r e tu r n s to Montana farm ers and r a n c h e r s , be­
c au se th e h ig h e s t ra n k in g d is a d v a n ta g e re p o rte d was n o t enough com­
p e t i t i o n w ith in th e m a rk e ts.
This a p p a re n t d is c re p a n c y m ight be
e x p la in e d by some fa rm e rs r e f e r r i n g t o days when c o m p e titio n warn
la c k in g and o th e r s r e f e r r i n g t o days o r p e rio d s In w hich c o m p etitio n
was v e ry good.
The d is a d v a n ta g e l i s t e d a s f i r s t by 16 fa rm e rs and ra n c h e rs ,
and a s second by 6 was to o f a s t s e l l i n g In th e r in g .
Summary
Many Montana farm ers and ra n c h e rs have giv en to o much w eight
to oonvenlenea o f m a rk e tin g and to low s h rin k a g e when s e l l i n g a t
a u c tio n m a rk e t* .
Answers on th e q u e s tio n n a ir e s re tu rn e d by Montana
farm ers and ra n c h e rs in d ic a te th e y a r e aware o f some o f th e advan­
ta g e s end l i m i t a t i o n s o f a u c tio n m a rk e ts as a method o f s e l l i n g l i v e ­
s to c k .
The re tu rn e d q u e s tio n n a ire * in d ic a te a m isu n d e rsta n d in g o f
c o m p e titio n w ith in th e liv e s to c k m a rk e tin g f i e l d .
:ieoo:'. Q d a tlo n
A program o f m arket in fo rm a tio n should be s t r e s s e d by th e
Montana S t a t e C ollege E x ten sio n S e rv ic e to e d u c a te Montana farm ers
and ra n c h er* a s t o th e ad v an tag es sad d is a d v a n ta g e s o f th e v a rio u s
ty p e s o f liv e s to c k m ark ets o p e r a tin g i n Montana.
82
Appmmix
L iv ee to c k A uction M arket Q u e e tlo n n e ire
To be Befearned to The
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURAL BOOSOMICS
MOSTANA STATE COLLEGE
Bozeman, Montane
I,
Whefe l a th e s i t e o f th e farm o r ran ch you o p e ra te d In 191*6 (I n ­
c lu d in g a l l farm and g ra c in g la n d owned, le a s e d , end r e n te d ) !
a cres.
2,
How many c a t t l e ( a l l c la s s e s ) d id you s e l l In 191*6! ____________
c a ttle ,
3,
!th a t methods w ere u sed In s e l l i n g th e se c a t t l e ! (Number methods
u s e d , No, I sh o u ld be th e method by which th e l a r g e s t number was
s o ld i No, 2 th e second In im p o rta n c e , e t c , )
A uction Market
Local Buyer
L ocal Baoker
Out-Of-Bta te Buyer
i
I
t
t
I
•
I
I
O u t-o f-S ta te Packer
I
Out-of-Stafce Casimlseion Co, t
Other ( e x p la in ) $
it.
How many m ile s from your ran ch h e a d q u a rte rs I s i t t o th e n e a r e s t
a u c tio n m a rk e t!
mil e s *
5,
( a ) Do you b e lie v e a u c tio n m ark ets w ill In c re a s e In number in
Montana d u rin g th e n e x t te n y e a r s ! _________________
(b ) Do you th in k a d d itio n a l a u c tio n m ark ets in Montana would
In c re a s e th e n e t r e tu r n s to farm ers and ra n c h e rs from th e
s a le o f l i v e s to c k ! _________________
6*
On th e a v e ra g e , do you th in k a u c tio n m ark ets w i l l g e n e r a lly b rin g
h ig h e r n e t r e tu r n s th an any o th e r method o f m a rk e tin g liv e s to c k !
7,
What a u c tio n m arket in Montana do you know b e s t ! ________________
8,
( a ) Do you knew from o b s e rv a tio n w hether or n o t th e o p e ra to r (o r
one o f h i s em ployees) buys in th e s a le r in g o f th e a u c tio n
m arket t h a t you know b e s t ! _______________
83
(b ) From th e stand point o f th e farmer or ranohera, do you think,
i t i s a good p ra o tio e fo r th e operator o f th e au ction market
to buy in th e s a le r in g t
9#
At th e au ction market you know b est* does th e a u ctio n eer buy In
the s a le r in g t
„
10.
From th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e farm er o r ra n c h e r, do you th in k i t I e
a good p r a c t i c e f o r th e a u c tio n e e r to buy i n th e s a l e r in g t
11,
In th e a u c tio n m arket you know b e s t , does th e a u c tio n o p e r a to r
buy c a t t l e i n th e c o u n try o r in a n o th e r m arket and r e s e l l them
in th e s a l e rin g ? __________________
12.
From th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e fa rm e r o r ra n c h e r, do you th in k i t
i s a good p r a c t i c e fo r t h e o p e ra to r o f th e a u c tio n m ark et to
buy c a t t l e in th e c o u n try o r a n o th e r m arket and r e s e l l in th e
e a le rin g ? ____________________
I),
Frost th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e p ro d u c e r, w hat a re th e two g r e a t e s t
a d v an tag es o f a u c tio n m arkets?
( 1 ) ________________________________ ___________________________ _______________
( 2 ) ___________________________________ ______________________________________
H lt
From th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e p ro d u c e r, what a re th e two g r e a t e s t
d is a d v a n ta g e s o f a u c tio n m a rk e ts us a method o f s e l l i n g
liv e s to c k ?
( 1 ) _______________________________________ ______________________________
(2)
----------------------------------------------------
15 ,
i n 19l*7 I p la n to c e l l a ( l a r g e r , s m a lle r , o r th e same) p e rc e n ta g e
o f my c a t t l e th ro u g h a u c tio n m a rk e ts — compared w ith 19U>» (Mark
o u t th e words in th e p a re n th e s e s t h a t do n o t a p p ly .)
16.
P le a se u se th o re v e rs e s id e o f t h i s s h e e t fo r any o th e r rem arks
you w ish to e x p re ss abo u t a u c tio n m ark ets o r liv e s to c k m a rk e tin g .
SAXS
ADDRESS
- 84 •
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lit*
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MONTANA STATP
3
762 10012932 7
B
%378
C3L7c
8U366
copy 2
C lark, Allen R.
C a ttle movements and I i v e Etock auction markets in Mont,
84366
N37&
C547c
c o p .2
.Hf". •