THECUBAREVIEW 2T 



CATTLE RAISING IN CUBA 



[Special to The Cuba Review] 



By N. S. Mayo 



Formerly Chief of the Veterinary Department, Cuban Government Agricultural Experiment Station 



LANDS SHOULD BE ENCLOSED AND DIVIDED — EXCELLENT OPPORTUNI- 

 TIES IN CUBA 



To the Editor of the Cuba Review : 



Dear Sir: Your correspondent's inquiry regarding cattle raising in Cuba and stock- 

 ing the ranch with Venezuelan or other cattle is so general in its scope that one cannot 

 give defmite information as to the cost without knowing more about the object of the 

 ranchman, whether he intends putting on cows or raising his own stock, whether he 

 intends to buy yearlings and grow them, or whether older cattle to fatten. 



The best cattle-growing region in Cuba is the eastern half of the island, the provinces 

 of Santa Clara, Camaguey and Oriente. These provinces are not so well developed 

 nor as densely populated. The lands, as a rule, are fertile and well watered and the 

 pasture grasses are excellent. The lands also are cheaper than in most parts of the 

 republic. In selecting lands for a cattle ranch, it is of vital importance that they are 

 well supplied with running water that will furnish plenty for cattle during the driest 

 season of the year, and also that there is an abundance of good pasture; without these, 

 failure is certain. 



The lands should be enclosed as a whole and divided by cross fences so that the 

 cattle can be separated according to ages and kept in herds of reasonable "size. Cattle, 

 if herded together in considerable numbers, do not pasture well. It is also important 

 that sufficient pasture be reserved for the dry season, well located with reference to 

 water. Sufficient help must be employed to keep the cattle fairly free from ticks, to 

 treat cases of screw worms, as they occur in calves, and to keep a close and careful 

 supervision over the cattle. Where this is not done, there is a temptation for those so 

 disposed to appropriate animals, particularly from a large herd. The fences must be 

 watched. The brands and cattle should always be registered. My advice is for a person 

 not thoroughly familiar with the cattle business to investigate personally and carefully 

 before locating, to begin in a rather small way and develop as experience indicates. 

 I do not think it would be feasible to import cattle from Venezuela as the present 

 import duties, unless they have been changed recently, are practically prohibitive. I 

 also think cattle of practically the same quahty can be purchased in Cuba as cheaply 

 as in Venezuela. 



Cuba is well stocked with cattle at the present time. In my opinion, after a very 

 careful investigation, there are as many cattle now on the island as ever before in 

 its history. Hon. John Barrett, who probably is as well posted in possibilities _ of 

 tropical America as any other man, in a recent address before the National Geographical 

 Society, predicted that tropical America would furnish the world's future beef supply 

 and I believe he is right. The present need of the cattle industry in Latin-America is 

 a better quality of cattle. The world's market demands a beef type that will fatten 

 readily. While in Cuba, I repeatedly urged upon the Cuban cattle growers the need of 

 a better class of cattle, for as soon as the local demand for meat is supplied, there 

 is little demand for the lean Spanish type of cattle so common in tropical America. 



Cuba has been, during the past ten years, exporting seme dressed beef for the 

 first time in her history. Shorthorn and Hereford cattle do fairly well in the tropics. 

 Aberdeen-Angus do well, but the natives do not like them because of the absence of 

 horns. Many cattle are used in Cuba for oxen and are yoked by the horns, so that 

 this is a serious defect. Various East Indian breeds, such as the Mysore, Brama, or 

 Zebu cattle, make excellent crosses, furnishing large, active, hardy offsprings, but there 

 should also be some blood of our best beef types combined. If cattle for breeding 

 purposes are taken from the United States, young animals, immune to tick fever 

 should be selected, or such animals should be immunized artificially to prevent loss from 

 Texas fever. The problem of successful cattle raising is a complicated one anywhere 

 and requires a good, practical knowledge of the handling of the cattle, combined with 

 business training. There are certainly excellent opportunities for growing a good 

 class of both beef and dairy cattle in Cuba. 



Placksburg, Va., July 10, 1910, ^^^ /7 "S ^ 



6 



^ 



