During the past generation the leading ranchmen, supported by the government in the realization of the need for better beef stock, have imported the best examples obtainable of well-known European breeds, which they have either crossed with the native cattle or kept pure. This movement has taken place largely during the past decade. Considered from all points of view, the Shorthorn has been accepted as the animal best adapted to Argentina's needs, figures from the Argentine Herd Book for the year (1917) showing 15,127 bulls and 27,422 cows of this breed. Other breeds are in the following order: Hereford, 2,294 bulls and 4,280 cows; Aberdeen Angus, 1,638 bulls and 2,654 cows; Flemish, respectively 62 and 185 Red Polled, 56 and 71; Jersey, 34 and 41; Red Shorthorn, 17 and 30; and Devon, 4 and 16. This does not represent all the cattle of pedigreed stock, but those registered only. The number, of various breeds, registered in the Herd Book from 1908 to 1917 is 60,107 bulls and 66,091 cows, of which approximately 54,000 are alive to-day. From 1901 to 1914 there were brought into the republic 12,761 pedigreed animals, chiefly from Great Britain, valued at $8,000,000, or an average of $637 each. The interest in livestock improvement is so keen that animals of real promise command the high est prices. At the show sale of 1913 at Buenos Aires, the Shorthorn bull, Americus, sold for $33,968, the world's record price, other high figures being Durham Shorthorn (in 1915), $25,476, and the Shorthorn reserve champion (1916), $23,353. The average price brought for 200 bulls auctioned in 1915 was $2,420.
The great majority of stock for breeding purposes is brought from Great Britain, the government regulations extremely strin gent as to the country of origin, the purpose of which is to prevent the entry of stock afflicted with the foot-and-mouth disease and other plagues. The regulations were in fact so strict that it has been, until quite recently, impos sible to introduce any livestock whatever from the United States, the fact of the foot-and mouth disease existing in any part of the country operating as a bar to cattle from any other part; even across the continent where the plague might be unknown. However, at the solicitation of the American Shorthorn Breeders' Association the regulations were modified by decree of 6 Oct. 1915, in the sense that, while importation is prohibited from any country while the foot-and-mouth disease sexists or has existed in an epizootic or gen eral form; or from departments, provinces, countries, or states where the disease exists or has existed within three months previods to shipment, the three months counts from the date of the official declaration of the extinc tion of the disease, provided that such declara tion has not been made until 15 days have elapsed from the last The government feels that it is able now to successfully cope with the cattle plague.
Under the patronage, of the government, the Sociedad Rural Argentina — the national or ganization interested in livestock — holds annual international livestock exhibitions at Buenos Aires, at which prizes for excellence are awarded by a jury sent to Argentina by the Royal Agricultural Society of London, thus maintaining breed standards, the while keeping alive the interest between Argentina and her greatest meat customer. Further encourage
ment is given to the meat industry by the gov ernment agricultural schools, and also by the sending abroad of students, or sbecados,s to study veterinary science in leading institutions of France, Germany, Great Britain and the United States. These young men, fresh from the latest and most advanced instruction abroad, return to take up their work on the great ranches or with the department of the govern ment concerned with livestock where they are a strong factor in the promotion of animal industry.
With the exception of those parts of Argen tina devoted to agriculture in whole or part, cattle run on immense ranges similar to those of a generation ago in the western United States. Under ordinary conditions but little care is required, the pasturage and climate being favorable. There is, however, the danger every few years of droughts diminishing the supply of water and grass, causing poorly con ditioned stock to be rushed to market. The results are commercially bad for the industry, in that the country is depleted of its stock of calves and breeding cows, as is shown by the varying gains and losses indicated in the national census. Of late, however, since the success of the refrigerating packing-houses has been dem onstrated commercially, a great acreage has been regularly devoted to the raising of feedstuffs for cattle, the principal ones being corn, 1,250, 000 bushels, 1915-16, and alfalfa, known locally as ((lucerne,' 18,219,997 acres, 1914. Recently the silo system has been installed as a remedy to overcome the effects of droughts, largely through the encouragement of the railroads. These measures, taken in connection with the improvements in breeding and the increasing world demand for cattle products, promise the continuance and growth of Argentine cattle raising and meat packing.
The packing-houses of Buenos Aires, La Plata and other Argentine cattle markets rank with the best in the world, and in connection with their output a fleet of vessels fitted for the carrying of frozen and 'chilled meats plies between the Rio Plata and Euro pean ports, with lesser facilities for meeting the requirements, just beginning, of North America. It is estimated that of the British investments of approximately $2,500,000,000, more than one-half is devoted in one way or another to the cattle or packing industries. Likewise, Argentina has been a favorite field for American investments, particularly in ex tensive packing establishments. Due to the European War demands they have been operated at their capacity. Southern Patagonia, formerly considered a bleak, waste territory, has be come an important producer of meat, prin cipally mutton, the packing-houses for which are located at Punta Arenas, Chile.