ARGENTINE PROSPECTS 41 



the home market, freezing, etc., is for 1909 from 

 a Report made by the Veterinary Department to 

 the Minister for Agriculture published in 1911. 

 Tins gives : — 



Home Consumption . . . . 4,500,000 



Freezing . . . . . . . . 641,803 



Jerked Beef and Beef Essence 154,600 



Live Stock Exports . . . . 132,450 



Total 5.428,853 



The number slaughtered for freezing during 1912 

 shows an increase of 350,000 head over the figures 

 of 1909 ; there is also the inevitable increased 

 home consumption of meat to be taken into 

 consideration. At the present time the annual 

 slaughter and export on the hoof must be well 

 over 6,000,000. An unofficial estimate, which 

 has not been contradicted by the Agricultural 

 Department, puts the total for 1912 at 7,200,000. 

 The same writer estimates the annual increase 

 at 4,600,000 head, showing that present exports 

 and home consumption are trenching on breeding 

 stock and reserves to the extent of 2,600,000 per 

 annum. Allowing for the consumption of hides 

 in the Argentine, the total number of hides 

 exported seem to justify a high estimate of annual 

 slaughterings for all purposes. It must be 

 remembered that, though the vast expanses of 



