Live Stock Breeders' Association. 105 



capacity of the world. The plants which slaughter cattle which are 

 chilled or frozen for export are called frigorificos. In 1903, when 

 the British ports were closed to live cattle there were but three of 

 these establishments in Argentina, now there are seven. The 

 saladero or "jerked beef" establishments of twenty years ago have 

 been gradually disappearing as more modern methods of handling 

 meat have been introduced. This indicates the progressive tend- 

 ency of the country and the great improvement that has been 

 wrought in the cattle. As late as 1894 2,000,000 were killed in the 

 saladeros of beef salting factories of Argentina; in 1901 only 403,- 

 000 and in 1907 about 270,000. It is true that much of the sala- 

 dero industry has been transferred to Brazil, Uruguay and Para- 

 guay. However, about one and a half million cattle represent the 

 entire number of cattle slaughtered in these establishments in the 

 four countries named. 



While the number of beef cattle in Argentina, the most pros- 

 perous southern republic, does not seem to be increasing, improve- 

 ment in quality has kept pace with the extension of the area under 

 cultivation. During the past ten years the area under cultivation 

 has increased 167 per cent, railway mileage 36 per cent and the 

 population 42 per cent. Many Argentine estancieros have spared 

 no trouble or expense in attempting to improve the common stock 

 of the country. This has been accomplished chiefly by importa- 

 tions of high class pedigree beef and dairy cattle from Great Britain. 

 It is an historical fact that the cattle breeders of Argentina, and 

 more especially the breeders of registered beef cattle, have bought 

 the best Great Britain has produced, without much reference to the 

 prices it was necessary to pay. As a result, in place of the old 

 native cattle estancias are stocked with mestizo (half breeds), and 

 in many cases more highly improved stock. In several instances 

 large herds of cattle were seen which were being bred for selling 

 to the frigorificos that were practically pure-bred. 



Shorthorns (more frequently called Durhams in the Argentine 

 Republic) are by far the most numerous and popular breed al- 

 though some fine herds of Herefords and Aberdeen-Angus exist. 

 The luxuriant pastures in many sections seem to be especially 

 favorable for the production of most excellent beef cattle. 



There is considerable strife among the principal breeders of 

 pedigree beef cattle occasioned by attempts to bring out prize win- 

 ners at the live stock shows, the chief one of which is an annual 

 affair at Palermo, Buenos Ayres. This exposition, in point of num- 



