St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-08-13

|
The broad plains of Mexico and Central
America, of Venezuela and Colombia, the ANA
ION region of Brazil Bolivia, Peru and Ecua-
| dor rival, if they do not excel the famed pam
pas of Argentine and Uruguay cheap meat
| producing districts
In the country of the Oronoco alone, Vene-
zuela and eastern Colombia, there is an area
of territory more than equal to France, Ger
! many, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark,
| or ten times the size Of the state OF New YORK,
which has it's superior as cattle country IN
| no part of the world, If indeed it has anywhere
! its equal.
| Mexico offers many advantages to the stock
| raiser. The conditions there are those with
which stockmen from the United States are
| more or less familiar which last fact in part,
| accounts for the large Investments OF Amerl-
can capital made in this industry within the
last few years in Mexico Cattlemen own the
land in large tracts Of from 100000 to 100000
| acres, acquired from the government by grant
and at a very low figure This prevents the
| shutting off from water, which has done so
much to destroy the range industry In the
| United States The winters are mild and there
is no danger of loss from blizzards-in fact,
the grazing is good all the year round.
The character Of the ranges on the Pacific
coast side in Jalisco Michoacan, Guerrero,
southern Oaxaca and Topic are similar in
character to the northern ranges but not so
well watered, and the grass is scantier.
On the gulf side there are entirely differ
ent conditions. On the slope OF the eastern
Cordilleras in the states of San Luis Potosl,
Tamaulpas and northern Vera Cruz is the re-
zion known is the Huasteca Potosina, the
country of the Tamesi, Panuco Temporal and
Tamasunchale rivers. This is an almost ideal
grass country It is succession of valleys
separated by grass-covered terraces or hills
increasing in height from the low plains near
the coast to the borders of the central plateau
5000 feet This slope receives the moist
breezes from the Gulf of Mexico in the form
of rain during the summer months and dew
In winter, and Is always free from frost,
drought and excessive heat. The natural pas
turage of this country is as fine as any in the
world, except on the Oronoco and in the up
per Amazon country. Cattle in good condition
can be sent to market at a cost Of less than
80 gold a head. On the northern and west
ern ranges lean cattle cost to produce from
81 to IS head and can be fattened for mar
ket to cost in all about $40 head
The latest Mexican statistics show about
5,250,oo0 beef cattle in the whole country, Of
an estimated value of about So gold per head.
Chihuahua and Vera Cruz lead with about
4O0, 900 head for each state. AS compared
with Argentina with its 100000 beef cattle
1t can be seen that Mexico is but at the begin
ming of the industry; in fact, as present the
country produces but little meat above its own
| needs, yet 1t could on natural pasture alone,
carry twice the number of cattle now grazing
in Argentina, and could easily supply to the
European markets from its surplus an amount
of meat twice what the United States has
even been able to supply from its surplus.
South of Mexico in Central America and
In parts Of Mexico not above mentioned there
is yet another cattle country where the c
mate Is more tropical. On the Pacific side the
area suitable for cattle is limited 1t is SINH
lar to the Pacific slope of Mexico, but the
country is more thickly settled, a larger pro-
portion of the land is devoted to agriculture