Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-21
THREE NATIONS EXCEL As eEEF
AND MUTTON GROWING
COUNTRIES.
ARGENTINA RESOURCES
ALMOST UNLIMITED
Producers saysAmeriean Investigator.
Can Bring About Large lnereass in
Present Output If Hisn Prices Con-
tinue - Argentina Also Producing
Good Mutton.
Especial Correspondence.l

Washington, Oct. 21.-The depart
ment of agriculture has given out a
statement with reference to the South
/, American meat industry and its pos
sibilities. Stock raising and meat
business in South America are WELL
developed Industries with large pos
sibilities for future extension, accord
| ing to this statement which embodies
the opinions OF DR.. A. D. Melvin. chief
of the bureau of animal industry who
has returned from a tour OF investiga-
ton made at the instance of Secretary
Houston.
DR.. Melvin's trip included Argentina
Uruguay and Brazil. In Argentina he
inspected all of the establishments
preparing beef for export with the ex-
ception of one which was not in oper-
alton at the time, and visited several
large ranches. He also attended the
stock shows at Rosario and Palermo
where many very fine animals were sx-
hibited. In Uruguay he visited one
OF the two large establishments, the
other not being in operation. In Brazil
he visited Sac Paulo and Rio de jan
GIRO. where a fine municipal abattoir
has recently been completed, at which
all Of the slaughtering for that city is
done. From Sac Paulo he went into
the interior country.
Argentina and Uruguay are large ex-
porters of beef and mutton, for which
Great Britain is their principal Gus
toner. Brazil. however. exports no
refrigerated beef, altho It supplies
Central American and Cuba with a
considerable quantity Of cured beef
known as "tasajo" or "jerked beef"
Argentina Resources Great.
While statistics show that Argentina
is already slaughtering up to the linn
NIT Of its present stock OF cattle, DR..
Melvin was impressed with the great
resources Of that country for cattle
raising and believes that it will be pos
sible for the stock raisers to bring
about a large increase in the meat
output if present prices are main
tanned.
The cattle slaughtered for export in
Argentina, DR.. Melvin says. are fed no
grain whatever. but are raised and fat
tened entirely on alfalfa pastures. For
the most part the cattle are high-grade
stock the predominating breed being
the Durham, with the Hereford ranking
second and the Polled Angus third In
number. The alfalfa pastures are ca
pahle of supporting many more cattle
than are the native camps" or I'M
broken country. In general way the
cattle raisers estimate on two and
one half acres Of pasture per head for
growing cattle, and three to three and
half acres for fattenfng cattle
These pastures support the cattle the
year round without any further feed
ing except in occasional times OF
drouth or invasion of locusts.
"At the time Of my visit" says DR.
Melvin. cattle that dressed $40
pounds were sold for $3.50 gold. This
grade Of Argentine beef, which Is OF
very high quality. Is selling in Eng
land for from to 9 cents q pound
wholesale Besides the price received
for the meat there is a considerable re-
turn from the hide and the offal, and
since the entrance of American pack
ers into the South American trade
these by-products are being care
fully prepared and utilized.
Good Mutton Produced.
"A very high quality Of mutton is
also produced In the Argentine, but
at the time Of my visit shipments were
scarce, on account OF the floods which
were quite prevalent in sections Of the
nroyince Of Buenos Aires and farther
south.
argentina for many years has beer
importing the best breeding cattle and
sheen from Great Britain and today
has some OF the finest types IN the
world. Uruguay has a good grade OF
livestock but they are not equal &c
the cattle in the alfalfa region Of Ar
gentina."
DR.. Melvin reports that the fedora
governments of both Argentina anc
Uruguay maintain veterinary inspec'
ton at all Of the establishments ex-
porting fresh beef. These establish.
ments are known as "frigorif1cos.'
| United States packing firms own -four
of the large plants in these two coun'
! tries. and the competition between
| them and the native firms is keen
| English capital Is also invested in sew
eral of the establishments.
| Municipal abattoirs with official in
spection are maintained very gener-
! allv at all Of the South American cit
| les of any Importance, and in this re-
spect these countries are ahead OF the
United States. Usually these abat-
toirs are owned by the municipal
tiles. which conduct the slaughterins
and provide the inspectors, charging
fees for the service.
The cattle Of Brazil, DR.. Melvin says
are not Of such good qualityl as those
of Argentina and Uruguay, and the
stock Is largely mixed with the zebr
or East Indian cattle. This strain O.
blood is very readily seen in most Of
the Brazilian cattle.