The exports of ((pastoral products,' compris ing frozen and chilled beef, frozen mutton, sundry frozen meats, preserved meats, extract of beef, powder of meat, preserved tongues, livestock — cattle and sheep — condensed soup, and jerked beef — stasajo,' according to the figures of the Direcci6n General de Comercio y Industria, at five-year periods from 1885 to 1913, are as follows: 1885, $6,684,945; 1890, $9,971,249; 1895, $14,768,972; 1900, $13,894206; 1905, $33,170,104; 1910, $43,440,235; 1911, $53,167,086; 1912, $56,502,816; and 1913, $53, 486,761. Under the general heading ((pastoral products ,s the United States consul at Buenos Aires states the exports for 1914 as $146,389, 581; for 1915, $211,057,640. These last two years doubtless include hides, an important item of exports, the total of cattle hides, in pounds, for the year 1914 being 122,552,518 (of which 102,541,570 to the United States) ; and 1915, 182,848,061 (of which 142,564,077 to the United States). Of the beef exported, ,he United States bought, in pounds, in 1914, 115,784,599; United Kingdom, 604,866,777; 1915, United States, 84,077,633; United Kingdom, 637,903,108; the other large purchaser being France, 1915, 46,626,817 pounds.
Bolivia is concerned chiefly with the and rubber industries. While stock raising' might be successfully carried on in many portions of the country, it has, despite the encouragem nt of the government, been neglected except for local needs. While there are sufficient cattle for domestic purposes, and many thousands running wild, the export of meat will probably be delayed many years, as the grazing lands are located far in the interior of the continent and the means of transporta tion to the sea coast are difficult and costly. In that part of the Andes occupied by Bolivia and Peru are found the llama, alpaca, vicuna and the domestic sheep, all producing meat for local demands, besides a very fine quality of wool for export. In 1913, 465 metric tons (2,205 pounds) of cattle hides were exported; In 1914, 374; and in 1915, 613. In addition, 6,558 head of cattle on hoof were exported to Brazil and Argentina. In view of this threatened de pletion of the herds, the government is at pres ent considering the prohibition of shipments of livestock, at the same time having already authorized the free importation of cattle, with a view of introducing the better breeds.
Brazil.— Brazil has devoted her greatest attention to the coffee and rubber industries, her exports in 1915 of these products being respectively 60 per cent and 13A per cent of, all products sent abroad. (See articles COFFEE; RUBBER). The attention paid to this source of wealth has, consequently, resulted in the neglect of other industries, except such as have been required for home needs. Stock raising has only recently been attempted with a view to export. It is• true that Brazil has long been a
great source of cattle hides, but their number has been measured by the domestic consumption of meats. It is since the outbreak of the European War that serious attention has been paid to a diversification of industries, par ticularly meat. The increasing home demand for coffee, due to the increase of population threatening a curtailment of exports —and the competition of cultivated Oriental rubber plantations, has aroused the government officials and economists, and late in 1916 the pre liminary session of the Sociedade Nacional de Agricultura (National Agricultural Society) was held at Rio de Janeiro, called for the pur pose of studying the Brazilian livestock situa tion, particularly as regards cattle. Among other phases considered were: domestic breeds, their degeneration and means for their im provement ; relative productive capacity; world supply and demand; possible federal, state and municipal assistance. Plans were formulated for special courses in all subjects related to the cattle and meat industries, and the formation of an efficient corps of veterinarians and bac teriological experts to uniformly control cattle rearing and meat sanitation, with the establish ment of zootechnic stations and model farms. In addition consideration was given in detail to the transportation of stock, packing and re frigeration, domestic and oversea freights and the question of direct government supervision over same. As a result of this meeting, a cattle exposition was held at Rio de Janeiro, 13-28 May 1917, cash prizes and diplomas being provided by the society, and Chicago packing firms contributing handsome cups.
The number of cattle in Brazil at the present time is conservatively estimated at 30,705,400 — 1,222 per capita, and 9.03 per square mile the greater number being found in the southern and western parts of the country. Of the States, Sao Paulo has 1,312,000, Piauhy, 1,163,000, Ceara, 1,162,000, Rio Grande do Sul, 7,249,000, Minas Geraes, 6,861,000, Bahia, 2,683,000, Matto Grosso, 2,050,000, and Goyas, 1,873,000. In addition, the estimate of sheep is 11,000,000; goats, 10, 000,000; and swine, 20,000,000. With the ex ception of the southern part of Parana, frosts are unknown, and the native pasturage, known as "caipam gordura°— fattening grass — is abundant the year around. In addition, water is plentiful and shade trees, necessary in the more tropic portions, are abundant. It is generally reckoned that in the cattle states four acres of grass is required for each animal. certain parts of the country, in the northern ! and eastern portions, are totally unfitted to cattle raising, and other portions arc occupied with agriculture, mining and rubber, and these must bc served by the meat-producing states.