BRAZIL 137 



of epidemics. Floods in the lowland section have also been 

 an important factor in annual losses. 



With the development of the railroads of the State and the 

 consequent opening of easier foreign markets through Buenos 

 Aires and Monte Video, and national markets through the 

 ports of Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande do Sul, Pelotas 

 and Port Alegre, the cattle industry has become more stable 

 and the improvement in the type of cattle has been marked 

 in recent years. 



Several meat companies have erected works, and others are 

 in course of erection. Capitalists from the United States and 

 Great Britain have at last realised what an enormous and handy 

 source of meat supply is available in Brazil, and are now fast 

 developing it. The export trade has expanded in a remark- 

 able manner, and the country bids fair soon to become one 

 of the most important sources of supply. In 1915 — the first 

 year of foreign trading — the exports were 8000 tons ; in the 

 following year they increased to 33,130 tons; while in 1917 

 66,450 tons of beef were shipped, chiefly to the Continent, 

 for the Italian and French armies. The beef is small and very 

 suitable for those countries. 



The Government has offered considerable advantages to 

 breeders of cattle, to encourage the importation of live-stock. 

 It intends also to facilitate in every way — both financially and 

 otherwise — the importation of large numbers of first-class 

 cattle ; the import of as many as 120,000 bulls is contemplated 

 within the next few years. Already many head of cattle have 

 been brought down from the United States. Many have been 

 imported from the Argentine, and 60 Zebus were recently im- 

 ported from India, fetching very high prices. A syndicate is 

 shortly to be formed to import cattle from the United Kingdom, 

 which is to be backed up by the Government. At present, it 

 is only a question of bulls ; but it is probable that the idea will 

 also expand to include the importation of cows, sheep and pigs. 



The Government is willing to expend also a large sum of 

 money to help the local breeders, and allow free transport by 

 rail. How much more brainy are the politicians in this country 

 than those in Australia, where the stock-owner bears the brunt 

 of all the additional taxation and freight ! 



