Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-21
CATTLE IN PORTO RICO
FACTS FROM SPECIAL AGENT O. f.
COOKS REPORT.
Animal. Different em Those i" the
United s'"'es-codf Grazing Ian"
Diaries Increasing in Number.

A report on THE Animal Industry of
Porto Rico has been made by Mr.. o. f,
Cook, special agent of the division of bot
any of the Department Of Agriculture
Probably second only to coffee, says Mr..
Cook, is the grazing industry of Porto
Rico, although sugar and tobacco figure
more largely than meat or live stock
among the exports of the island The
local markets consume most of the ami
NAL food products and others are imported,
though to a limited degree the imports ag
gregating nearly S2,OOOOO annually and
the exports averaging about 100000. The
local consumption of home grown meat.
however reaches $5,OOOOO0 or more,
that the total value of the live stock must
be several times that amount.
Grazing. Mr.. Cook continues, is not an
industry TO which many tropical countries
are adapted, and certainly very few can
compare with Porto Rico in this respect.
Inc extremely tenacious clay soil favors
the luXuriant growth of grass, and if the
woody vegetation be held in check the
pastures are permanent and perennial.
Cattle partly hidden in the tall grass are
no uncommon sight in luXuriant Porto
Rlcan pastures, which could be scarcely
duplicated in the United States. Through
out the entire island a large part of the
lana is given up to grazing, which, on
account of the recent depression in the
markets for the local agricultural pro-
ducts, has received great impetus as the
safest ana most profitable business in
which the farmer could for the present en-
gage.
Price of Meat.
Meat sells in Porto Rican markets at
prices not greatly different from those
which prevail in cities of our eastern
states There is a prevailing impression
among Americans that Porto Rican beef
is extremely tough, but this is explanable
by the fact that few animals killed
except the old and WORKOUT With the
industry rapidly expanding, the tendency
Is to Keep the cows as long as possible for
breeding purposes, while draft oxen are
also too valuable to be sacrificed while
still vigorous. The wretched condition of
the country roads requires the of oxen
instead of horses for all heavy work, and
much larger numbers are also necessary
than would be the case if the highways
were improved.
The dairy is emphatically not tropical
institution. and it is doubtful whether it
will ever be successfully transplanted into
warm countries. Very little butter is
made in Porto Rico. For the of the
Weather classes of the town populations
annual importatons of butter to the value
of about $4,000 We're made under the
Spanish regime. an amount, which, it is
believed, will be greatly increased by the
demands of resident Americans. Butter
in the tropics, even when properly pre-
served is not entirely satisfactory, and the
price which obtains in temperate climates
places it beyond the reach of anything
like popular use. The imported butter
comes from variety of sources but large
ly by way of Spain.
A small amount Of cheese Of very poor
quality is also made in Porto Rico. but a
much larger quantity is imported than in
the case of butter, the annual average
considerably exceeding 100000. Nearly all
of this comes from Europe, the American
contribution seldom exceeding 100000 in |
value.
Diaries in Operation.
About the larger towns there are already |
diaries in operation Milk is carried to
market in American MIX cans. The larger |
land owners have their private herds of
mich cows, and are easily able to make up
in numbers any lack OF productiveness for
family use. The prevalence of the curious
notion that Will not give milk I'M
less the calf is tied near by seems to in
dictate incomplete domestication from the
dairy standpoint.
Porto Rican cattle seem to belong to a |
separate insular breed rather than to any
recognized in the United States. There is
some diversity of color, but such excep-
lions are comparatively few. the prevail |
ing hues being dull reds and fawns. The |
hair is very short Local opinion is to the
effect that the cattle CT Porto Rico were
introduced from Africa in the time of the
slave trade