COLOMBIA 215 



with an occasional cleaning, and a burning and a rest during 

 the rainy season. 



As to the methods practised in the industry at the present 

 time, it may be said that practically no care is given to the 

 animals, one man taking care of a very large herd ; cows drop 

 their calves in the open ; salt is given to the animals infre- 

 quently, not more than once a month, and diseases prevail 

 among them to some extent. 



The cattle now produced are not large, averaging only 700 

 or 800 lbs. live weight, but the breed could be much improved 

 by imported blood. It takes five or six years for an animal to 

 reach maturity, the percentage of calves that live is high, and 

 if the dry season is not too long continued there is plenty of 

 water to maintain them properly. Good grazing lands can be 

 obtained from 4/- to £5 per acre, the price depending on the 

 size of the tract bought, and its nearness to the coast and a 

 navigable river. 



The Republic is developing its meat export trade. Contracts 

 have been made for the supply of at least 40,000 head from that 

 country during the current year. Agents from the United 

 States are much in evidence at the present time. One packing 

 house at least is said to be considering the feasibility of erecting 

 a canning plant, possibly at Barranquilla, which forms a con- 

 venient port for such a purpose,- and the Government has 

 offered a subsidy of £10,000 to the first packing house estab- 

 lished either on the Pacific or Atlantic side, the packing house 

 to have a capacity of 50,000 head of cattle per year. There are 

 about 2,400,000 cattle in the country. According to the latest 

 estimate, Colombia should be able to export at least 80,000 

 head of cattle during the year. 



The few small consignments of beef that have come to the 

 English market from the South American Republic of Colombia 

 have, of course, been a stray supply attracted by the un- 

 failing magnet of high prices. It would seem, however, that 

 there are other calls on this supply than the distant European 

 market, as for some time the supply department of the Panama 

 Canal has been bringing cattle from Colombia to aid in meeting 

 the demand for fresh beef in the commissary stores in the Canal 

 Zone. More than 1000 cattle a month have been slaughtered 



