90 THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



lands t hus opened up. In order to defray the cost of the cam- 

 paign against the Indians, four thousand Leagues of land had 

 been sold by the Government, at the price of 400 gold dollars 

 per square league. From 1878 to about 1890 was a period of 

 transition, migration and settlement, no great progress being 

 made in refining stock or in cultivation, or in increased value 

 of land. The increasing areas placed under cultivation in the 

 inside lands compelled all breeders, who did not own their 

 land, to seek new pastures, with the result that from 1890 to 

 the present day an amazing development has taken place. 

 The native type of both sheep and cattle has almost entirely 

 disappeared. The sires imported from Europe have com- 

 pletely transformed the herds and flocks of a few years ago, 

 so that to-day the average Argentine estancia can compare 

 favourably with any other similar establishment in the world. 

 The immense industry opened up with the advent of the freez- 

 ing companies, and the high standard exacted by the require- 

 ments of their European customers have done much to im- 

 prove Argentine live-stock. The praiseworthy and eminently 

 successful efforts of the Argentine Rural Society towards 

 raising the standard of Argentine live-stock by means of cattle 

 shows, prizes, publications, and propaganda, entitle them to 

 the grateful recognition of the whole country. 



Recently a friend, who was once manager of a big Australian 

 station, wrote me from Argentina regarding their methods 

 of working Argentine cattle, and his details were as follows : — 



The paddocks are all small, about 1500 acres being a large 

 paddock ; usually they contain between 400 and 500 acres. 

 All classes of stock are kept separate, each age and class 

 running in adjacent paddocks ; furthermore, all steers are 

 graded, the most advanced being drafted from the others, the 

 one object being to get them fit for market as early as possible. 

 A buyer from a frigorifico would leave in disgust, without 

 offering, if shown bullocks boxed up as is done in Queensland, 

 and expected to offer for a percentage out of the herd. 

 The steers being nicely graded, the buyer can examine each 

 lot, and make \t\- estimate to within a very narrow margin of 

 of their killing weight. Steers are rarely held until four years 

 old, the majority being disposed of between 2| and 3| years, 



