Uruguay partakes of the ad vantages afforded to the cattle industry by its geographical location, being of that group com prising southwestern Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, the natural pasture of livestock. The number of cattle in the country (1916) was 8,192,602-6.518 per capita, the highest in South America, and approximately 17 head per square mile. This branch of industry has been the main resource of the country, formerly in the shipment of cattle on the hoof, the export of dried beef, or atasajo,o hides, beef extracts, and in addition, its sheep products, its sale of wool alone for 1909 being $18,682,112; 1910, $15,036,977; 1911, $19,491,761; and the first six months of 1913, $18,740,037. Meat and meat extracts (including mutton) were exported in 1909 to the amount of $6,190,979; 1910, $7,571, 611; 1911, $7,017,944; and in the first six months of 1913, $1,083,900; during this last period slaughter-house products and frozen and chilled beef were classified separately, the former amounting to $8,404,900, and the latter to $3,868,995, a total of $13,358, 795 for the half year, the quantity exported since that time being greater per annum, as is indicated by the imports into the United States of fresh beef and veal -1914, 38,712,846 pounds, valued at 313,618; 1915, 13,802,565 pounds, valued at $3, $1,175,293: and 1916, 116,549 pounds, valued at $10,486. The sharp decrease for 1916 is ex plained by the great European demand, a de mand that also called for the re-export of 18,000,000 pounds of the quantity imported in 1914. Animal products exported in 1917 were valued at $93,456,574.
Realizing the importance of the meat in dustry, the government of Uruguay has de voted the greatest attention to measures for its encouragement, promoting exhibitions of livestock and establishing experiment stations, decreeing sanitary regulations with regard to the cattle plague, quarantines, abattoirs, certifi cation of meat, etc. In October 1916, the Pres
ident recommended to the General Assembly the creation of a Department of Live Stock to operate under the Ministry of Industries, at the same time outlining the need for a central or ganization to direct the industry, to combine in one department the various offices in charge of inspection, animal diseases, marks and brands. and import and export requirements.
Venezuela.- Venezuela, formerly the home of great herds, has to-day about 3,500,0(X) head of cattle, although estimates have given as high as 9,000,000. About 500,000 are slaughtered annually, the great majority for domestic con sumption. It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 square miles available for stock raising. On 12 March 1917 a presidential de cree was issued establishing an experiment sta tion near Caracas, to take up the problems of intensifying the industries of the republic, in cluding livestock. In the valley of the Orinoco, and particularly along the Colombian boundary in the state of Tachira, are splendid pastures, well watered and of uniform climate, where the cattle industry flourishes. The exports of hides (principally to the United States) in 1913 amounted in round numbers to $1,492,000; in 1914, $1,390,000; and the first six months of 1915, $845,000. Of cattle exported in 1913, the valuation was $625,000; in 1914, $285,000; and the first six months of 1915, $138,000. In addition, a small quantity of dried, salted and frozen meat was exported. W. B. GRAHAM, Trade Expert, Latin-American Division, War Trade Board, Washington, D. C.