Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-01-15

are so much above the worlds aver
age in merit that we furnish one
third of the worlds beef supply. Ar
gentina had Az cattle to 1 inhabi-
tant, while we had less than 1, and
! Italy had less than l head to every S
inhabitants. However, when it comes
to the number Of cattle per square
mile the densely popuia,,1 little
countries throw us into the shade
For instance wnile the United State
has an averag Of % cattle per
square mile aad Illinois has Sc, Bel
gium has 164 and Canada but 2. But
when it Gomez to exports of live cat
tie, the United States leads the world,
Canada stands second, Argentina
third, Mexico fourth and Uruguay
fifth. But in export Of dressed beef
Argentina stands frs, the United
States second, Uruguay third, Austria.
liza fourth and New Zealand fifth. Ar
gentina would excel us in the expor-
| tation of live cattle as well as dressed
beef, but for the strict quarantine
against her maintained Ly European
| countries on account If food and
mouth disease. About 85 per cent
of our exports of beef and live cat
tie go to Great Britain. Up to the
year 1900 our exports of cattle and
beef increased yearly, but from 1900
to 1905 the annual exports remained
! about the same, and since 1905 our
exports have decreased every year,
| and must soon cease altogether un-
less there Is rapid incrase of cattle
raising among our people. In other
| words, our home markets will soon
require all the live cattle and dressed
beef that we produce, leaving no sur
plus to send abroad
Argentina having forged ahead Of
the United States in cattle produc-
ton, Prof. Herbert w. Mumford, au-
thor OF these circulars, was sent to
that country and Uruguay by the II
linois station, to make a personal in
vestigation Of the present condition
and future prospects OF the industry
~ Ihooo SouhIilCo, anu SllCuldl lOt
reports his findings.
Prof. Mumford finds that cheap and
productive lands and cheap labor
abound, producing a great abundance
Of alfalfa and other nutritious le-
gulnes and grasses that readily fat
ten cattle without grain. He also
inds the climate so favorable that
neither shelter nor shade are neces-
sary. While comparatively little corn
is grown, unlimited quantities can be
produced. He also found that by the
importation Of the best blood from
Great Britain and the United States,
the herds Of Argentina have been
bred up tf high degree Of excel
lence. Some Of the ranches are Of
enormous size and show a high de-
gree of efficiency in their manage
ment. On the other hand Argentina
cattlemen have some troubles to con-
tend with. They have the fever tick,
tuberculosis, anthrax, or charbon, to
fight; and worse still, a few out
breaks Of foot and mouth disease
have caused Great Britain to close
her ports against live cattle from that
country. This has caused Argentina
cattlemen to provide uneXcelled
slaughtering and refrigerating facili-
ties, and hence she now sends frozen
beef and mutton abroad instead of
live stock.
In 1910 the United States exported
over $4,000 900 worth Of live cattle,
and Argentina less than 100000
dollars worth; but, on the other
hand, Argentina exported $25,5O0,-
900 worth Of dressed beef, while we
sent abroad less than half as much.
But, as before stated, the competi-
tion of Argentina in foreign markets
will soon cease to interest the cattle
! producers Of the United States; for
home consumption will require all we
can produce. And. even now we hold
undisputed command of the British
market for prime corn-fed beef, and
will continue to hold it so long as our
supply lasts.
Therefore, the chief concern of our
beef producers, so far as 1t relates to
Argentina competition, has to do with
the possible invasion OF our own
markets by Argentina beef. Because
little corn is grown there or likely to
be for many years, Prof. Mumford
thinks there is little danger from
that quarter. Besides, he found