TEMPERATE SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS 65 



meat products are not obtainable, 1 so that no clear picture of the 

 industry can be found. In spite, however, of certain natural 

 resources in climate and pastures, fhe net surplus output of animal 

 food produce seems unimportant, and large developments are 

 improbable. 



SOUTHERN BRAZIL. 



The temperate region of Southern Brazil includes the provinces 

 of Rio Grande, Santa Catharina and Parana, all three of which are 

 naturally adapted to all kinds of stock raising, and have developed 

 rapidly in recent years. 2 The region covered by these provinces 

 has the advantages of good pastures, highlands suitable for sheep, 

 cheap lands and nearness to the sea for export trade. Cattle are 

 raised throughout, sheep on the Highlands and pigs in Rio Grande.* 



The total numbers of these animals are not accurately known, 4 

 but there is good reason to believe that they are increasing faster 

 than the population. 5 The size of the animals is small and the 

 quality poor except perhaps in parts of Rio Grande, where con- 

 siderable care is taken with breeding. 6 The surplus meat at present 

 finds its way into the markets of Northern Brazil in the form of 

 jerked meat, but the improvements in cattle-breeds now in progress 

 together with the increasing surplus and the declining market for 

 jerked beef in Northern Brazil, should very shortly make a surplus 

 of refrigerated meat available for overseas export. Down till quite 

 recently Brazil, as a whole, has not been able to meet its own 

 requirements in meat from home production, but there are indica- 

 tions of a considerable future development of animal industries 

 in Eastern and Central Brazil which will relieve the situation there, 

 and even provide an export surplus. 



The extent of the possible future surplus of meat products from 

 Southern Brazil is intimately bound up with developments in other 

 parts of the country. Improvements in transport between the 

 inland districts and the coast are badly wanted everywhere, and 

 much depends on these. In other ways the prospects for a surplus 

 of refrigerated meat are distinctly favourable. The Government 

 has actively encouraged the improvement of stock by making 



1 An American Report (No. 109, Bureau of Crop Estimates) gives the exports 

 of meat from Paraguay as follows : 1903, 7 million Ibs. ; 1909, 1-4 million 

 pounds ; 1912, 4 million pounds. If these figures are accepted, it will be 

 seen that the exports have not only been very fluctuating, but have shown 

 a downward movement since 1903. 



2 There are said to be 2 million sheep in Rio Grande alone : " Brazil in 1913." 

 8 Mainly by the German colonists : " Brasilien," H. Schuler, p. 428. There 



are said to be 18 lard factories in this province. 



4 According to the statements of various authorities temperate Southern 

 Brazil must have not less than 10 million food-producing animals of which 

 at least half are cattle. 



5 Commissao d'Expansao Economica do Brazil, Vol. II., p. 178. 



6 The production of jerked beef in Rio Grande was 113 million Ibs. in 1909 

 and 141-2 million Ibs. in 1913, an increase of 25%. U.S. Daily Commerce 

 Report, Oct. 5th, 1916. 



