66 PRODUCTION 



special arrangements for the importation and distribution of pure- 

 bred animals ; steps are being taken to deal with animal diseases ; 

 and the natural pastures are rich, the rainfall abundant and well 

 distributed, especially in the southern provinces, and large areas 

 are said to be suitable for the cultivation of alfalfa. 1 





CHILE. 



From the point of view of this inquiry only that part of Chile 

 which has a sufficient rainfall is of special interest. The strip of 

 country lying north of 30 S. is not able to meet its own require- 

 ments in animal foodstuffs. This fact will place a positive check 

 upon any great expansion of net meat exports from the country. 



The exports of meat from Chile in 1913 amounted to about 

 8,500 tons, a very small item compared with other countries, and 

 at present there does not seem to be much likelihood of an increase. 

 Stock-raising in Chile does not seem to be keeping pace with the 

 general development of the country. 2 The land in the more settled 

 parts can apparently be used more profitably for cereals, owing to 

 cheap imports of cattle from Argentina. Sheep are gaining at the 

 expense of cattle 3 which are less suited to the southern stock- 

 raising belt. At present no provision is made by way of fodder 

 crops during the dry season, and contagious diseases are common. 4 



The exports of meat are made at present entirely from the terri- 

 tory known as Patagonia or Magellanes, where freezing works have 

 been established. In the future, however, sheep-rearing may 

 develop in the more or less forested belt between 45 and 50 S. 

 with the progress of settlement and the clearing of the forests. On 

 the whole, however, there does not appear to be any likelihood of 

 a great increase in the production of surplus meat in this or in any 

 other part of Chile. 



TEMPERATE SOUTH AMERICA. 

 REVIEW AND SUMMARY. 



A general review of the present conditions relating to the pro- 

 duction of animal foodstuffs and feedstuffs in temperate South 

 America shows that pastoral industries on the ranching system are 

 still predominant ; that, on the whole, much more attention is 

 given to cattle than to sheep ; and that except in the cold southern 

 peninsula, the latter animals are being displaced by cereal cultiva- 

 tion. The population is in general sparse, and in any case is not 

 of a type that will readily adopt the more laborious and carefullv- 



1 Brazil in 1911, Chap, xvlli. Since the outbreak of the European War 

 an export trade in meat from Brazil has commenced, which has grown 

 rapidly. Thus in 1915 the exports were 8,000 tons ; in 1916, 33,130 tons : 

 in 1917, 66,450 tons. According to a recent report, further expansion in this 

 trade is to be expected. 



2 U.S. Daily Commerce Reports, May 6th, 1914. 

 8 Ibid. * Ibid. 



