THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 3 



With the introduction of studs from Britain, however, they 

 will rapidly gain in number and in weight. In July, 1917, 

 their Census Returns accounted for 12.443.304 cattle. 10,586.594 

 sheep, and 4,200,280 pigs. Supplies of home-grown meat for 

 the civil population were accordingly fairly plentiful. 



It must not be forgotten that there are several countries in 

 Europe with enormous populations which make grain of various 

 sorts their main food supply ; therefore, in investigating the 

 requirements for meat, it is well to remember this important 

 factor, and those countries can be put on one side, as their 

 main food supply will come out of the ground. Again, there 

 are many nations whose people are meat eaters yet are not 

 so fastidious as we are and use horse flesh, whale flesh, and 

 other meats which the average Britisher or American refuses 

 to touch. 



The world's export output of frozen and chilled beef, mutton 

 and lamb in 1917 was estimated at 965.000 tons, as against 

 915,380 tons in 1916, 881,075 tons in 1915, and 800,375 tons in 

 1914 — a steady rate of expansion which was very satisfactory, 

 under war conditions. From these yearly totals, about 386,000 

 tons, 381,569 tons, 218,150 tons, and 105,948 tons respectively 

 were diverted to markets other than the United Kingdom. 



The nations which are mainly beef, mutton, and pork eaters 

 are the British Empire, United States, Germany, France, and 

 a few other smaller countries in Europe ; also most of the 

 South American Republics. These are the countries whose 

 supply and demand must be looked at when investigating the 

 condition and prospects of the meat trade of the world, and I 

 propose to take them in the order of their importance. 



Many of the countries I shall describe have been visited by 

 myself during the last thirty years with the particular object 

 of studying their pastoral capabilities for the information of 

 the graziers of Australia and Xew Zealand. Therefore this 

 matter of stock and meat supplies comes in very opportunely. 

 Russian requirements may be left out of the question. When 

 these people settle down, introduce law and discipline, and have 

 shot the men who have brought the country to its present 

 pitiable condition, they will be able to draw what meat they will 

 temporarily require from the vast plains of Siberia. Manchuria, 



