Excerpt from the report: This study was undertaken to determine the scope of cooperative livestock production, marketing, and processing activities in the Southeast. Previously available data provided only information on the trends in volume and memberships of cooperatives handling livestock and livestock products. This study is broader in scope, however, covering all organizations in the Southeast that operate on a cooperative basis. A basic feature of these organizations is that they operate for the benefit of producers and are controlled by them, although they may or may not be formally organized as cooperatives. The study provides basic background information on such matters as organizational characteristics, operating features, facilities, and services. It also offers several recommendations for the consideration of cooperative leaders and others.