THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



Ear : bu1 once the war is over there is little doubt that iii time 

 that country "will be exploited and its herds improved. 



The Rhod 'sia Meat Packing Company, Limited, has been 

 formed, with ;i capital of £100,000, to acquire a piece of land 

 situated at Odzi Station. .Mashonaland. with water rights on 

 the Odzi River, for the purpose of erecting meat -canning and 

 freezing works. The capacity of the factory is to be approxi- 

 mately 7") beasts per day. It is the intention of the company, 

 as soon as the canning works are in operation, to proceed with 

 arrangements with a view to the freezing and export of meat 

 for shipment overseas. 



Essentially, Rhodesia is a stock country. The conditions 

 point strongly to meat as the principal ultimate product to be 

 elaborated off the veld. Dairying, too, undoubtedly has a 

 bright future, yet primarily beef is to be looked to as Rhodesia's 

 staple export to the world's markets ; milk, butter and cheese 

 will chiefly meet the local demand. 



Cattle-raising requires more capital and a longer time before 

 profits accrue, but ultimately yields a higher return. Crop- 

 mowing yields a more regular and an earlier return — a more 

 vital consideration to the newcomer and the man of limited 

 means. Ranching, or at least cattle farming on extensive lines, 

 is a growing feature of the times in Rhodesia, so far with a very 

 promising measure of success, the one general want as yet being 

 numbers. The indigenous native cattle supply the foundation 

 stock, improvement being gradually effected by the introduc- 

 tion of bulls of European breeds. The Government is en- 

 deavouring to encourage the systematic improvement of cattle 

 m the country, and steps for the establishment of a stud farm 

 have been taken, whilst no inconsiderable time is devoted to 

 tendering information and advice on the subject. 



There is no doubt that Rhodesian methods in cattle farming 

 are advancing, the most noticeable signs being increased atten- 

 tion to such matters as hay-making for winter use, production of 

 forage and of root crops for stall feeding, the construction of 

 dairies and dipping tanks, better housing, more attention to 

 the care of calves, and, perhaps above all, fencing. Changes 

 in the direction indicated are conspicuous on some of the large 

 ranches in Lomagundi and the farming districts of Goromonzi, 



