The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-27
MEAT PRODUCTION.
increasing but Not Keeping Pace with
Growth in Population.

- 49, VI u1tL1O1i.
.1hat meat production has not kept
pace with the increase in population
| and that its failure to do so. combined
with increased east of production and
diminished purchasing power of the
money unit, has contributed to higher
prices, not only IN the United States,
put all over the world is stated in
art OF the exhaustive report on the
meat situation in the preparation. of
winch specialists of the department
nave been engaged for some time This
country, 1t is said, is participating in
worthwhile movement, and it is not
expected that the situation will under
60 any radical change in the immedi-
ate future. On the other hand, it is be-
leEed that there viii be gradual
growth and expansion i'll the world 81
production of beef, mutton, and pork
when may or may not equal the rate
OF increase OF the meat-eating popula-
ton.
In America this gradual expansion
appears TO have begun already. Be
tween 1907 and 1913 there was a
marked decline in the number of cat
tie III the country, but in the last two
years tins not only has stopped but has
49, ~ Il IltENFDilDit increase.
Inc estimated number on farms and
ranges on January !, 1916, 81, AL 900.
Is, however, still much below the cor
responding figures for 1907. 72.534. 900.
with the exception of Temporary
checks due to losses from hoo cholera
there has been in recent years a per
slstent increase in the production Of
SWINE. On January /. 1916. the mum
Der Ill the country was estimated at
eS,oo0,ooo, as compared with IS 200 900
III April, 1910. On the other hand. the
number OF sheep declined during this
period from 52,j00,000 in 1910 ia 10
10000 i'll 1916. As the decrease. how
ever, is not sufficient to offset the in
crease IN cattle and swine, it NAV he
SAID that the total production Of meat
IN the United States is increasing. hut
that this increase is not vet proportion
ate to the growth in population.
The available supply Of meat would
he much greater if il were not for the
enormous losses caused by disease and
exposure. Since 1900 it Is estimated
that from 100000 to 1,475.000 cattle
nave died each year from disease and
from 100000 to 100000 from ey-
posure. With sheep. the losses from dis
ease have been about the same. but
from exposure much larger. With swine
the relative prevalence of hog coIera
Is perhaps the determining factor in
the annual loss. In 1894 this was rs
low rs 100000. but in 1914 if
amounted TO 100000 If these 1000.
600 hogs had been saved, it is said
they would have produced enough meat
to furnish every family in the United
states with 40 pounds of pork.
Despite these facts the United
states remains the greatest meat-eat-
ing as well as the greatest mcat-pro-
duelng nation i'll the world. Approx
matelv twice as much meat is con
samed IN this country as in Germany
before the wal, and the total normal
consumption Ia Russia. Great Britain
aud France is less than in Germany.
The per capita consumption is also far
greater IN this countrr than anywhere
else with the exception of Australia
and New Zealand
Our own exports now consist LARGELY
OF pork and pork products, and these
are derived to great extent from
corn. In the fiscal years 1914 and 1915
we imported more fresh chilled. and
frozen beef aAd mutton than we cx-
ported and more beef of all descrip-
tions was imported i'm 1914 than was
exported. In this limited respect we
have Joined the great majority. Prac-
tically the whole of the world : export
trade in meat is maintained br nine
eountrieS-Argentina Australia. Cana
la. Denmark. Mexico fundcr normal
conditionsl, New Zealand, the United
States, and Uruguay.