CHAPTER XXI 

 LIVE STOCK AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN THE TROPICS 



THE live-stock industry of tropical countries differs in many 

 respects from the same industry In cold climates. In general, 

 live stock is of less commercial importance in tropical coun- 

 tries as compared with the values of plant products. While 

 nearly all tropical countries abound in animals which are suit- 

 able for various domestic purposes, there has never been, until 

 recently, any great organized effort to develop the various 

 phases of live stock along commercial lines. Travelers who 

 are familiar with the various improved breeds of live stock 

 are ordinarily impressed rather unfavorably with the appear- 

 ance of the domestic animals which they find in the Tropics. 

 Many newcomers from cold climates believe that a great re- 

 form should be started in this matter and that this reform 

 should at once involve the importation of superior sires of 

 our improved breeds of stock for the improvement and breed- 

 ing up of tropical live stock. Enthusiasm of this form, how- 

 ever, should not be allowed to carry one away to extreme 

 measures, for the reason that the breeds of live stock now 

 found in the Tropics have come about as a natural adjust- 

 ment to tropical climates and are likely to withstand the cli- 

 mate and give a better account of themselves than would 

 the improved breeds imported from cold climates. Numer- 

 ous blunders have been made in the attempt at the wholesale 

 and sudden reformation of the live stock industry of the 

 Tropics. These blunders have invariably been expensive and 

 discouraging. The common breeds of live stock when trans- 

 ported to tropical climates fall a prey to various diseases to 



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