106 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ber and quality of its exhibits, ranks with similar institutions in 

 the principal live stock producing countries. 



Of the cattle produced for slaughter the best are sold to the 

 frigorificos, where they are either chilled or frozen for export. There 

 is no absolute standard set by these establishments as to the quality 

 and condition necessary for their trade, as considerable variation 

 in the quality and degree of fatness occurs, owing to available sup- 

 plies and foreign demand. 



Demands in the way of breeding and finish in cattle for con- 

 sumption in the Argentine Republic are not exacting, and as a rule, 

 a cheaper less improved half-fat class of cattle is slaughtered to 

 supply local butchers. Discarded cows and work oxen are frequently 

 important factors in this trade. 



The municipally-controlled new mataderos or market and 

 slaughtering establishment in Buenos Ayres is creditable. The 

 government veterinary inspection at this plant, as well as that at 

 the frigorificos and fabricas, is to be commended as contrasted with 

 the slovenly methods in common use in isolated sections where 

 competent government inspection is unknown. Ample provision 

 has been made for slaughtering cattle, both for domestic consump- 

 tion and for export, and these establishments are conveniently 

 located both for caring for the bulk of the city and export trade 

 and for providing sanitary conditions. 



Cattle raising in Argentina is distinctly a pasturing proposi- 

 tion. The feeding of corn or other grain to fatten or finish cattle 

 for the market is not practiced. A few years ago, some experi- 

 ments along this line were tried by estancieros or ranchmen, but 

 the practice was abandoned because it did not pay. Frigorificos 

 would not, perhaps could not, afford to pay enough more for cattle 

 so fattened over the grass or alfalfa-fattened cattle to make it 

 possible for the estanciero to get market price for the corn used in 

 finishing. 



An abundance of well bred cattle and a good and increasing 

 supply of corn in the country simply await the time when condi- 

 tions are favorable for converting the corn into a higher grade of 

 beef instead of exporting relatively such a high percentage of the 

 crop. 



Cattle raising for beef in that country, especially in the temp- 

 erate zone, is a much more favorable industry than in the United 

 States. The climate makes it possible for the entire life of cattle 

 to be spent out of doors without shelter and generally without 

 shade of any kind. The suitability of a very large acreage for the 



