Live Stock Breeders' Association. 109 



55,000 acres supports as many cattle and sheep as the original 140,- 

 000 acres before the adoption of alfalfa. 



As seen from some points of view it would seem that the 

 Argentine Republic is not favorably located for developing an ex- 

 tensive and profitable export trade in beef, closer study shows that 

 their slaughtering establishments can be and are located within 

 easy access to the most-favored cattle-producing sections, and also 

 at or near seaports having direct and frequent communication 

 v/ith British and European ports. It costs no more to deliver a 

 carcass of beef from Argentina to the London market than from 

 Chicago. 



It should not be expected that the beef produced in the Argen- 

 tine on grass alone will grade in the market as high as English, 

 Scotch, or corn-fed beef from the United States of North America. 

 Notwithstanding this beef is being produced and in the manner 

 mentioned, that sells in the English market within two to three 

 cents per pound of the corn-fed beef from the United States. 



Some discouragements await the Argentine beef producer, al- 

 though they may be of a quite different character than those else- 

 where experienced. For example, a few years ago, owing to an 

 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and the consequent supposed 

 prevalence of this disease in the Argentine Republic, the ports of 

 Great Britain were closed to the importation of Argentine live 

 cattle. There is very little, if any, of this disease in Argentina at 

 the present time. In fact it does not seem to be a serious handicap 

 to cattle raising there except as mentioned. Cattle raisers there 

 have even gone so far as to suggest the possibility of its being prev- 

 alent in a herd without its presence or effect being especially 

 manifest. Other discouragements are found in the way of ticks 

 and a form of anthrax commonly spoken of as carbuncle. Added 

 to these diseases the estanciero may wisely anticipate more or less 

 frequent drouths. Notwithstanding all that may be said with 

 reference to the difficulties encountered in cattle raising, it is still 

 a favored and favorite industry in the Argentine Republic, as is 

 shown by the number of men engaged in it and their prosperous 

 condition. 



