Livestock Marketing Agencies in West Virginia

MARKED CHANGES have taken place in the marketing of livestock in West Virginia during the past decade.Established marketing agencieslocal slaughterhouse op- erators, local dealers, and cooperative associations-have been forced to modify methods of conducting many business operations.Since 1932, livestock auctions have become the most important marketing agency in the state and have exerted considerable influence on the oper- ating practices of other agencies.Such factors as highway improve- ment and changes in marketing In 1942 total cash farm income from the sale of cattle and calves, sheep and lambs, and swine amount- ed to nearly 19 million dollars, or 29 percent of cash farm income from all sources.Cattle and calves ac- counted for 66 percent of this amount, sheep and lambs 14 percent, and swine 20 percent.Livestock and livestock products accounted for nearly 50 million dollars, or 77 percent of the cash farm income of the state.Cash returns from livestock sales in 1942 were slightly more than cash returns from the sale of livestock products.Corresponding data are reported for 1939, since much of the data presented in this study relate to the 1939 marketing saason.It may be noted that little differ- ence exists between data presented for 1939 and 1942.Such differ- ences as do prevail may largely be accounted for in price differences for various species of livestock rather than in relative differences in numbers sold.Consideration of livestock numbers in the state since 1910 indicates that there have been wide fluctuations, but no major trends, in the various species and classes of livestock con- sidered in this study (16th Census of Agriculture, West Virginia, First Series, p. 8).Selling or trading livestock Percentage of total sell- ing or trading: Percentage that sales and trading of livestock are of total farm products sold or traded dollars