Feeder Pig Pooling: Improved Marketing Through Grading and Commingling

Excerpts from the report: Pooling is a method of handling whereby pigs are weighed on arrival at the market, sorted, and penned with other owners' pigs of similar quality, weight, and other physical characteristics. These lots of uniform pigs are then sold, usually at auction, and each producer is paid for the weight of his pigs at the price of the pooled lot. Pooling is known as pen-lot selling in some areas and may be done at regular auctions or at special sales. This report is based on information collected by Farmer Cooperative Service in an overall study of livestock pooling, the objectives of which were: (1) To determine the status of livestock pooling in the United States; (2) to evaluate pooling as an effective marketing tool; and (3) to offer suggestions to improve existing pooling operations and to aid others in starting and operating efficient livestock pools.