THE RATE OF CONSUMPTION 



206 



meat alone. The additional supplies from these sources may 

 amount to 25% of the diessed meat by weight on an average of 

 countries, and of this about 7% may be due to poultry and game. 

 Under the existing standards of consumption among the wealthier 

 classes a considerable addition to their supplies of ordinary dressed 

 meat would be necessaiy in the absence of these items. The bear- 

 ing of increased population and of the consequent extensions of 

 agriculture upon the supplies of game meat available in various 

 regions is, therefore, a matter that cannot be entirely overlooked. 

 It appears from the facts stated in the above paragraphs that 

 the figures for the per capita consumption of meat in various 

 countries are only an approximate guide, and that further enquiry 

 is really necessary in each case to ascertain the corrections neces- 

 sary before they can be. taken as strictly comparable. The follow- 

 ing table x shows in a summarised form the facts hitherto collected 

 concerning the per capita meat consumption in various countries. 



The average per capita consumption of meat among the meat- 

 consuming populations of the world, as above denned, has been 

 estimated at 93-3 Ibs. 5 This would appear to represent the mini- 

 mum normal quantity under ordinary conditions in a temperate 

 climate for a liberal and balanced diet. It requires, however, to 



1 Taken largely from Report 109. U.S. Dept. Agric., Bureau Crop Esti- 

 mates (p. 132). More recent figures have been substituted for those given 

 for the United Kingdom, France and Germany. 



2 Presumably dressed weight and exclusive of poultry and game in all 

 cases. 



3 Obviously an under-estimate. 

 Unreliable, because not sufficiently recent. 



Dept. Agric., Bureau Crop Estimates, Report 109, p. 16. The same 

 Report estimates the total annual production of dressed meat of the world, 

 exclusive of China, at about 50,000 million Ibs. If, however, the total con- 

 suming population is upwards of 600 millions, as estimated above, the 

 average per capita consumption would be only 83 to 84 Ibs. 



