Sept. 1895.] THE ARGENTINE LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY. 



141 



THE ARGENTINE LIVE-STOCK INDUSTRY. 



The prospects of a greater development of the live-stock 

 industry in Argentina have been already discussed in an earlier 

 number of this Journal,* particularly with reference to the 

 growing importance of the export trade in live cattle from the 

 River Plate to the United Kingdom. Some further information 

 bearing on the same subject has been recently issued by the 

 Foreign Office in a report,t compiled by Mr. Peel, Second 

 Secretary to Her Majesty's Legation at Buenos Ay res. 



The system of stock raising in Argentina is not in all respects 

 similar to that followed in Australia and New Zealand. Mr. 

 Peel says that the breeder in the Argentine runs both cattle and 

 sheep on the same pastures, finding that, owing to the variety 

 and nature of the grasses, the presence of both are necessary to 

 the maintenance of the best feeding herbage. The combination 

 of agriculture witli stock-breeding is but little practised, except 

 in the great lucerne lands of Santa Fe. 



Stock is principally bred by the landed proprietor, or " estan- 

 ciero," who exploits his land by breeding horses, cattle, and sheep 

 on it. An estancia varies in area from 3,000 to 6,000 acres. 



Another and less important class is formed by the renter of 

 land, who pays from 8 up to 12 per cent, rental on the value of 

 the land. A large number of these renters occupy a run sufficient 

 for one flock of sheep, in area from 600 up to 900 acres. They 

 are successful shepherds and estancia labourers, who have 

 economised sufficient to purchase a flock of 1,000 sijeep. They 

 pay a rent that represents approximately one national dollar 

 (Is. Sd.) per sheep per annum. 



Finally, there is the grazier, who buys cattle and fattens them 

 for market upon land kept more or less free of breeding stock. 

 He is termed in Spanish an " invernador," i.e., one who winters 

 stock. He also generally rents the land he exploits. This 

 class is conflned to the lands within about 200 miles of the 

 city of Buenos Ayres. It is the practice with some " estancieros " 

 to reserve certain paddocks for the purpose of buying and 

 fattening stock. The "invernador" is practically the middle 

 man between the producer and the consumer. 



The original cattle of Argentina were small, long-horned, 

 thick-hided, slow -growing beasts, of every conceivable colour. 

 But for the last 20 years a brisk reformation has taken place, 

 and there are few herds left now that do not own to some 

 degree of English blood. The most popular breed for crossing 

 purposes is the Durham shorthorn, and this still continues to 

 be most in demand. The Hereford also has many advocates, 



* The Journal of the Board of Agriculture, Vol. II., No. 1. 



•j- Foreign Office Report, Miscellaneous Series, No. 369. Price l^d. 



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