Besides the newly-organized Sociedade Nacional de Agricultura, many of the individual states have their local cattle fostering organizations, under whose auspices fairs and expositions are held annually, In Rio Grande do Sul a state union — the Uniao dos Criadores — was organ ized in 1915 with the purpose of inducing the government to promote rural development, in cluding improved transportation facilities, co operation in the purchase of necessities re quired in the cattle industry, particularly cattle for breeding, barbed wire, salt, wind-mills, etc. In two years the Union enrolled 1,600 members, and attained a flourishing condition. From its headquarters at Porto Alegre a monthly maga zine is issued, for the use of its members, the public and for exchange purposes with like organizations throughout the world. The presi dent of the commonwealth of Minas Geraes, the fifth state in size in the country, in his last annual message (1916) called particular at tention to the lack of transportation facilities, a general need throughout the republic, and pro posed a concerted effort to increase the frozen meat industry in that particular state. He mentioned in particular the shipments of this product from Santos, beginning in September 1914, with 3,100 kilos, valued at $270, and in creasing during the calendar year 1915 to nearly $1,500,000, and during the first four months of 1916 to $1,177,000, the bulk of this being raised in Minas Geraes. Government aid has been given in this commonwealth with good results, cattle fairs having been established at Tres Coracoes, Sitio, Bemfica, Lavras and Campo Bello, at which 192,336 head were sold in 1913.
The native livestock of Brazil—of Portu guese origin — is well suited to the climate and pasturage of the country, and has recently been successfully crossed with foreign breeds. While small, the domestic animal, known as the "gado criouli° (creole), is not unsuited to beef purposes, and by selective breeding has at tained an excellence that fits it for exhibition purposes in competition with foreign breeds, or with the "mestico,° the native crossed with imported sire. Of the domestic strain, the most desirable are of the four types known as ucaracu,° "curraleiro,° “cortaleiro" and "mocha." Of the foreign breeds introduced, the Polled Angus is considered the best, the Here ford and Shorthorn being second and third choice. Some attempt has been made to cross the zebu, from India, with domestic stock, as being adapted in certain parts of the country to withstand the intense tropic heat and insect pests.
As regards meat production, Brazil has long supplied her domestic needs, in addition to ex porting quantities of dried beef, known as "xarque,° "charquai,° "tasajo° and ubiltong.° In the city of Rio de Janeiro alone 31,150,020 pounds were consumed in 1916, and 9,912,056 pounds re-exported, principally to the Amazon ports. Of these amounts, the states of Rio Grande do Sul supplied 2,843,302 pounds, Matto Grosso, 5,044,930, and Minas Geraes and Sao Paulo, 22,806,366 pounds, figures that indicate the extent of local production. The dried beef
industry continues as an important branch of Brazilian commerce as well as that of other South American states — the product is cheap, wholesome, may be produced without expensive equipment, requiring no coal or ice, both ex tremely expensive, and is easily transported. However, coincident with the European em broglio, the country awoke to the fact that a handsome profit was in store for foodstuffs, particularly meat, with the warring nations, and during the period following 1914 rapid strides were made in the installation of frozen and chilled beef packing plants.
The exportation of refrigerated meat, in consideration of the short time that it has been a subject of Brazilian trade, has been import ant. The first shipment was made from Santos, consigned to New York, in July 1915, amount ing to 205,350 pounds, the whole amount ex ported from that port during the sane year amounting to 17,482,839 pounds; from Rio de Janeiro, 1,239,992 pounds; and from Para, 7,902 pounds, a total for the six months of 18,730,733 pounds, valued at $1,530,399. Of this quantity, the United States received 4,393,287 pounds; France 222,910 pounds; United Kingdom, 9,592,626 pounds; and Italy, 4,521,910 pounds. During the first 11 months of 1915, 14,686,386 pounds were exported, and in a like period of 1916 the number was 70,268,566 pounds, an in crease of approximately 400 per cent, a ratio that is maintained in the shipments during the early months of 1917, with Rio de Janeiro, however, leading Santos in the quantity shipped.
Shipping facilities had to be created to handle the export meat trade, the regular steamship lines calling at Brazilian ports adapt ing themselves to the new requirements. The steamship Rio de Janeiro of . the Lloyd Brasileiro Line— owned by the Brazilian gov ernment —made its first trip with refrigerating installation leaving Santos for New York 4 July 1915, with 205,350 pounds of beef. Other boats of the same line, the Minas Geraes, the Acre and the Sao Paulo, have since been fitted with cold storage holds for the same trade. In addition, the English and French lines making Brazil have every facility for handling meats. On 15 Sept. 1916, the Highland Harris (Eng lish) carried a cargo of 6,398,000 pounds from the packing-house at Vera Cruz (Rio de Janeiro) ; and on 19 Nov. 1916, the Cravonshire (English) carried 8,132,500 pounds, in addi tion to 1,100 cases of canned meats from the packing plants at Barretos and Osasco. Thus far, the greater quantity of refrigerated meats has gone to Europe. While a large quantity has been cleared for the United States, the Summary of Commerce makes no mention of imports from Brazil, the quantity shipped here doubtless having been transshipped.