120 



PRODUCTION 



dense population to be supported, the numbers of food-producing 

 animals in Holland and the exports of animal foodstuffs are striking. 

 Not only are the per capita ratios of such animals high, but they 

 have increased on the whole since 1890, as shown in the following 

 table :- 



TABLE SHOWING THE RATIOS OF CATTLE, MILCH Cows, SHEEP, 

 AND PlGS, AND OF CATTLE "UNITS" PER 100 OF THE 

 POPULATION OF HOLLAND IN DIFFERENT YEARS. 





When the increase in the ratio of " cattle units " to the popula- 

 tion (shown in the last column above), is considered, it is not sur- 

 prising to find that there has been an increase in the exports of 

 animal foodstuffs in recent times, 1 even in spite of the fact that the 

 per capita consumption of these foodstuffs, including margarine, 

 has increased in common with the neighbouring countries of 

 Western Europe. With reference to the various classes of live-stock, 

 the above table also shows that in recent years in Holland cattle 

 have remained nearly stationary relative to the population, that 

 dairy cattle have declined somewhat, but have probably increased 

 their milk per head of the population, and that sheep, as elsewhere, 

 have steadily declined in favour of pigs. 



An examination of the figures of import and export trade for 

 Holland reveals the complexity of the country's trade in the matter 

 of foodstuffs and feedstuffs. As is well known, margarine con- 

 stitutes one of the more important items of animal foodstuffs 

 exported. The value of the margarine exports in 1912 was esti- 

 mated at about 5 million, but, on the other hand, there were in 

 the same year large imports of animal fats and oils valued at more 

 than 3 million, in addition to vegetable oils. These animal fats 

 and oils were used partly in the manufacture of margarine, and 

 partly as such to supply the local deficiency. The imports of oil- 

 seeds in the same year were valued at over 3J million, and these 

 were used after crushing as regards the oils mainly for margarine 



1 The increase in the Dutch exports of animal foodstuffs in recent years 

 is well illustrated by a comparison of the quantities exported in 1912 with 

 those exported in 1901 as shown below. 



LIVE ANIMALS BUTTER CHEESE MARGARINE 



MILL. kg. MILL. kg. MILL. kg. 



1901 116,144 22-1 47-3 68-3 



1912 524,713 39-15 59-5 86-5 



