The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-15
BRITAIN's CATTLE IMPORTS.
Received from Argentina and
Australasia. and Their Condition.

Austr1tusf0. ana Their Condition.
w WASHINGTON, June H-Dr. Salmon.
chief of the Bureau OF Animal Industry Of
the Department of Agriculture, has received
from the representative OF the bureau I'm
Great Britain very interesting report with
reference to imports of live cattle and sheep
from Argentina and other countries. This
report shows very large gains in the inn
ports OF both cattle and sheep from Argen-
tina. The imports OF live cattle into Great
Britain from that country began I'm 1891,
with the shipment of twenty-five head. In
1894 the imports of cattle had increased to
50lS, while 81. .235 head OF sheep were also
imported in the same year. The imports
for 1895. from Jan. to May is. are, for
cattle, 1926, and for sheep. l24531. The
losses at sea OF these cattle while greater
than those incurred cattle and sheep
from the United States. are not extraordi-
nary. On the imports for 1894 the loss at
sea amounted to forty-five head OF cattle
and ga of sheep. while on the large ship
ments of 1895 given above the losses
were: cattle, COS: sheep, 3.446.
The cattle imported from Argentina are
reported coarse. rough. unfinished and
very Wild" their weight is from eleven 10
twelve hundred pounds. and they cost in Ar
gentina from SIS to sS5 PEE head. TO this
feei and attendants. SIS, While ETH the Il price Ice
realized in Great Britain is from $50 to $50
a head. The voyage lasts about thirty days.
aeT about 90 's e eSbe Sl
fodder space per 40 cattle) only compar-
atively small number can be carried on each
ship.
Butchers report the meat as fabby aud
hard to 'set" after slaughter, and uneatis-
factory as to color. not being as bright as
United States cattle. Some butchers, in
deed. refuse to handle IL for these reasons.
that the cattle are mostly fed on alfalfa. As
regards the regulations as to receiving and
slaughtei-ing in Great Britain the same
Argentina as against those from the United
States. All must be slaughtered where
landed within ten days.
The bureaus representative reports on
some shipments from Australia and New
Zealand, principally the latter colony. i've
against two from Australia; The cattle
were well bred, mainly Herefords and
from fifteen to eighteen hundred pounds.
some of them being indeed too fat for the
London market. They brought prices equal
ris; hend great increase in this trade. me
snys the derent n degrees Of re
quiring the greatest care TO prevent sick
ness. high freight charges. $40 TO $50 head.
and the great space for fodder-these seem
to afford insuperabie obstacles TO any con-
siderable or permanent increase In cattle
shipments from Australasia. There is, more-
over. no port on the way where fodder can
be secured, all ports available for such pur-
poses being under condemnation by the
British authorities as infected with foot and
mouth or other contagious diseases. In the
case OF two shipments where the vessels
had stopped for coal at such port the aii-
tered on board the ship. The same restric-
tons as exist In the case OF American cat
tie are enforced against those from Aus
tralasia.
The amount OF cattle exported by the
United states fell of from ls2. 2.s5s during
fonr months OF this year. but this Is ac-
counted for by the high price OF cattle here
rather than the inroads of Argentina The
exportation of sheep which began IN jan
nary isei Increased from IS. 500 for the first
six months of that year To 1891 for the
first four months or THIS year.