142 



THE ARGENTINE LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY. [Sept. 1895. 



and this breed is regarded as more hardy, and more suitable, 

 therefore, for rough outside or frontier lands. The live export 

 trade has drawQ considerable attention to the polled Angus, and 

 it may be expected that in the future there will be a greater 

 demand for this breed. The practice of dehorning cattle for 

 live export has already been instituted, which explains the 

 attention now paid to poll stock. 



The stock intended for local consumption and for export to 

 Chile is generally of an inferior quality, and botli steers and 

 cows are supplied. There are times when the export trade is 

 dull, and fat steers of a good class are thrown into the Buenos 

 Ayres butcher market ; but, as a general rule, the butcher 

 prefers a cheap animal. The prices ruling at the date of Mr. 

 Peel's report were from 11. 15s. to 21. 5s. for three-year-old 

 steers, and from 18s. to 11. 4s. for cows. 



The trade that is carried on in steers with Chile is small, and 

 of little importance. The Clnlian traders are the buyers. They 

 come over to the frontier lands and buy the poorest description 

 of cattle, removing them to the eastern slopes of the Cordilleras to 

 winter, and driving them over the mountains when the passes 

 are open. Their prices range from 14s. to 18s., and the cows 

 from 9s, to 12s. 



By far the greatest number of the steers go to the " saladeros." 

 This industry is of most ancient origin, and until within very 

 recent years was the only outlet of the surplus cattle stock. 

 The steers are slaughtered, their hides removed, and the meat 

 taken from the bones in great portions of 3 by 2 feet, and of the 

 thickness of four hngers. These portions, termed " mantas," 

 are salted and sun-dried, or jerked. The hides are steeped in 

 salt, and exported in that state to Europe. The meat is exported 

 to Brazil and the West Indies. The bones and refuse are boiled 

 down, and the grease extracted and finally exported to Europe 

 for the purposes of manure. 



The " saladerista " does not demand a highly-bred animal ; 

 for his business the hide is an important factor, and in improving 

 the quality and fattening propensities of stock the hide loses in 

 weight and thickness. He is, therefore, an important element 

 in the buying market, as he willingly takes tlie animal unfit for 

 live export. 



The Argentine Republic has not yet succeeded in exporting 

 chilled beef to Europe. The export of live stock to Brazil and 

 Europe has only sprung up within the past five years, and in 

 that period has already developed in a marvellous manner. In 

 1892, 40,000 sheep and 125,459 cattle were exported. This 

 increased in 1893 to 71,167 sheep and 201,645 cattle, and in 

 1894 to 122,218 sheep and 220,400 cattle. 



The steer exported to Brazil is that which is considered too 

 good to sell to the saladero, and not good enough for Europe. 

 The live weight demanded is that of 1,100 lbs. and upwards, 

 and includes old bullocks and cross-bred steers of inferior 



