5S PRODUCTION 



of live stock and the quantities of meat exported, all of which have 

 significance as bearing upon future tendencies. 



First, there is evidence that the per capita consumption of meat 

 in Argentina has fallen in recent years, 1 thus releasing some addi- 

 tional supplies for export trade. As this figure was apparently 

 excessive till recently, a decline in the rate of consumption would 

 quite naturally follow the general rise in prices. Second, there 

 have been considerable importations of British pedigree cattle and 

 sheep which have resulted in enormous improvements in the 

 quality of Argentine live stock. As regards cattle, the indifferent 

 native " cirollo " stock is being rapidly graded up 2 by means of 

 the imported blood stock, especially Shorthorns, with the result 

 that the returns in meat per animal are quicker and heavier and of 

 better quality. The rapid decline in the exports of salted beef 

 (to about one-third) since the opening years of the century points 

 to the disappearance of the jerked beef industry, which utilises 

 only the poorer grades of cattle. In sheep-breeding the tendency 

 in recent years with the progress of the railways has been to sacri- 

 fice wool-producing to mutton-producing qualities. 3 



The establishment of a number of freezing works at Buenos 

 Aires for dealing with cattle and sheep, and at points further south 

 for dealing with sheep, has given great impetus to improvements 

 in the breeds of meat-producing stock. 



Third, the rapid extension of the area under alfalfa or lucerne 

 (from 390,000 hectares in 1888 to nearly 5 J million hectares in 1912) 

 has caused an increase in the meat -yield per animal enumerated. 

 Alfalfa pastures carry about three times the number of stock carried 

 by the same area of good native pastures, and have a greater 

 fattening capacity. 4 It is probable also that in the near future 

 maize will be used as finishing material, 5 as this is regarded as 



1 The following figures have been given for the per capita consumption of 

 meat in Buenos Aires city, which contains of the whole population : 1911, 

 343 Ibs. ; 1912, 307 Ibs. ; 1913, 274 Ibs. ; 1914, 233 Ibs. U.S. Daily Com- 

 merce Report, Oct. 4th, 1915. 



See also Report of British Consul at Buenos Aires for 1912-13, p. 40, where 

 the Argentine meat consumption is given at 275 Ibs. per head for the towns, 

 and more for the country, and where it is stated that wasteful forms of meat 

 consumption are common. 



2 This is shown clearly by the percentages of different classes of stock in the 

 two census years 1895 and 1908. 



1895 1908 



Natives 65-4% 37 % 



Grades 22 % 48-4% 



Pure breds -3% 3-2% 



From figures given in Farmers' Bulletin, 581 (S.U. Dept. Agric.), p. 32. 



8 U.S. Dept. Agric., Bureau of Animal Industry, Bulletin, 48. 



4 U.S. Dept. Agric., Bureau of Animal Industry, Bulletin, 48, p. 55. 



5 Ibid, p. 32, also U.S. Daily Commerce Report, Nov. llth, 1910, p. 566. 

 Unfortunately the maize-growing districts are distant from the great cattle 

 regions and no important " finishing " industry has as yet grown up round 

 the freezing works, as has done round the packing centres in the United 

 States. 



