850 Number of Live Stock in Argentina. [feb., 



breeding of good cattle suited to the land and conditions of 

 the country. Nearly all the ploughing and cultivation is 

 done by oxen, but good working cattle are very scarce and 

 dear in Egypt. This is largely due to the absence of natural 

 pasture, which is essential to economical cattle breeding ; the 

 farmer buys his cattle from the smallest holders of land. The 

 latter are the chief stock raisers in Egypt, being able to rear 

 cattle in small numbers by feeding them on rough herbage 

 along the canal banks and elsewhere. It is not surprising 

 therefore that the fellaheen lack knowledge of the breeding, 

 selection, and rearing of cattle. 



A Breeding Commission has been appointed and is estab- 

 lishing a stud farm in the neighbourhood of Ghizeh. Several 

 thoroughbred horses and sheep have already been imported 

 from the United Kingdom. 



The importation of European stud bulls is being avoided 

 on account of the difficulties of acclimatisation, and Mr. T. P. 

 Goodchild maintains that such crossing would not only be 

 risky, but would probably lead to a reversion to animals good 

 for neither meat, milk, nor work. The Commission is there- 

 fore selecting the fittest bulls from local shows and elsewhere 

 with the object of producing stronger and more thrifty 

 animals by getting rid of the most glaring faults. It is in- 

 tended later to establish breeding centres for different districts, 

 and so to provide animals for breeding purposes after the 

 manner of the Indian Government. 



Poultry and Eggs. — At present both fowls and eggs are 

 scarce in Egypt. There is no prospect of poultry farming 

 in this country until the character of the local fowl typhus is 

 discovered, to which even native fowls succumb. 



After an interval of thirteen years a census of live stock 

 has been taken in the Argentine Republic, and, in view of 

 the growing importance of that country 

 Number of Live as a factor in the world's meat supply, 

 Stock in Argentina the figures are of considerable interest. 



They show generally that the stock of 

 cattle has increased by one-third, while sheep, on the other 

 * hand, have decreased by about 10 per cent. The increase in 

 the number of cattle is distributed over all parts of the Re- 



