PARAGUAY 153 



River Pilcomayo. At the last census, 1915, there were 5,250,000 

 cattle and 600,000 sheep in the country. 



The live-stock industry in Paraguay is one of the most pros- 

 perous, and one of the most productive. There is a sure market 

 in the country or in the Argentine. The commercial world has 

 discovered in Paraguay an appreciable reserve in live-stock, and 

 the demand will continue to increase, and under improved 

 management so will the supplies. 



Paraguay lands have always been noted for their healthy 

 condition, and Paraguay stock for their prolificness. Animals 

 are born and develop with very little personal attention. The 

 abundance of pastures, water, and the scarcely sensible 

 climatic changes offer exceptional conditions suitable for Jive- 

 stock production. If the almost wonderful resources of vege- 

 table food were added to the natural conditions of the country 

 the results would be doubled. The inter-breeding during cen- 

 turies among the native animals, and the negligence in pre- 

 serving the camps, abandoned for centuries, have produced in 

 the Paraguayan live-stock a considerable depreciation in 

 quality. 



Good management will correct these defects. The crossing 

 of the native with pure breeds should be the first improve- 

 ment to be undertaken. The cattle rancher's object shculd be 

 the improvement of the breed ; that is what is really needed. 

 The system employed until lately by ranch owners has been 

 to hold large tracts of land, unattended, with a heavy number 

 of animals, without occupying themselves with breeding good 

 animals ; this system must be abolished. What can be done 

 will be seen by the excellent lessons given by the neighbouring 

 Republics which have obtained the renewal of the greater part 

 of their stock, with enormous benefits to the industry. 



Meat is naturally very cheap, perhaps cheaper than in any 

 other country in the world, since a bullock 3| to 4 years old 

 is worth only 15 dollars to 20 dollars gold. The hide, tallow 

 and grease being worth alone one-half that amount, there 

 remains, say, 10 dollars, as the value of 300 to 350 lbs. of meat, 

 being less than 4 cents per lb. for meat of the best quality 

 without bones. 



There being such an abundance of cheap meat, the Govern- 



