Live Stock in Guatemala. 



219 



Live Stock in Guatemala. 



In his annual report to the Foreign Office on the trade of 

 Guatemala, Mr. Consul Trayner furnishes some interesting- 

 information relative to dairy-farming and live stock in that 

 country. It appears that the dairy stock consists largely of 

 three-quarters or half-bred natives and Holsteins. The pure- 

 bred native cows give much richer milk than the imported 

 stock, but yield very little, while the milk of the thorough- 

 bred imported cows is said to be very thin, owing no doubt 

 largely to the unsuitable nature of the fodder, and thus the 

 half-bred cows are the most profitable. 



There are large tracts of land in the high plateaux of the 

 Republic which, though incapable of bearing good crops, 

 yield very fair grazing for cattle all the year round. The 

 climate is mild and equable, and the cattle can remain in 

 the pastures from January till December, while no losses are 

 suffered from severe weather in winter, snow being quite 

 unknown. Most of the country is v/ell watered. The total 

 number of head of cattle in the country w^as estimated in 

 1895 to be about 500,000, but this number is being rapidly 

 augmented and the breed improved. The price of cattle 

 varies considerably : a calf fetches from 8 dols. to 1 5 dols. 

 (13s. to 24s.), a bull from 20 dols. to 40 dols. {32s. to 

 £3 4s.), an ox from 25 dols. to 50 dols. {£2 to £^)^ and a 

 cow from 15 dols. to 30 dols. (25s. to £2 los.). The price 

 depends much on the breed ; a good cow sometimes brings 

 70 dols., and imported stock fetch larger prices all round. 



According to the last census returns there are about 

 62,000 head of horses and 42,000 mules in Guatemala. For 

 some years past, it appears, the race of horses has been im- 

 proved by the importation of stallions and mares from the 

 United States, and from Chili and Peru, while a few 

 animals of English and Arab stock have also been introduced. 

 This mixture of new blood is said to have produced an 

 excellent race of horses, some being of great value. The 

 native horse, though small in height, possesses great 

 endurance, and can make extraordinarily long journeys, 

 although, as a rule, his fodder is of the poorest kind of hay 

 and dried maize leaves. 



