The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-07
MEAT PRODUCTION.

The meat production has not kept
pace with the increase in population
and that its failure to do so, COM
bined with the increased cost of pro-
duction and diminishing purchasing
power of the money unit, has contrib
uted to higher prices not only in the
United States but all over the world
is stated in Part of an exhaustive re-
port of the meat situation in the prep
aTation of which a number of special
istE, of the United States department of
agriculture have been engaged for
some time.
This country. it is said, is partici-
pating in a worldwide movement and
it is not expected that the situation
will undergo any radical change in the
immediate future. On the other hand.
it is believed that there will be a grad
ual growth and expansion in the
worlds production of beef, mutton
and pork, which may or may not
equal the rate of increase of the meat
eating population.
In America this gradual expan-
sion appears to have begun already
Between 1907 and 1913 there was a
marked decline in the number of cat
tie in the country but in the last two
years this has not only stopped but
has given way to a perceptible in
crease The estimated number on
farms and ranges on January 1, 1916,
61,441,0 900, is, however, still much be-
low the corresponding figure for 1907,
~, 1874, 900. With the exception of
temporary checks due to losses from
hog cholera, there has been in recent
years a persistent increase in the pro-
duction of swine. On January 1, 1915.
the number in the country was esti-
mated at 6S,OOO,0O0 as compared with
100000 in April, 1910. On the 9TH
er hand, the number of sheep declined
during this period from 52,500,000 in
1910 to 100000 in 1918. As the
decrease, however, is not sufficient to
offset the increase in cattle and swine,
| 1t may be said that the total pro-
duction of meat in the United States
is increasing but that this increase is
not vet proportionate to the growth in
population.
The available supply of meat would
be much greater If it were not for the
enormous losses caused by disease and
exposure. Since 1900 it is estimated
that from 100000 to 1,476,000 cattle
have died each year from disease and
from 100000 to 100000 from ex-
posture. With sheep, the losses from
disease have been about the same, but
from exposure much larger. With
swine the relative prevalence of hog
cholera is perhaps the determining
factor in the annual loss. In 1894 this
was as low at 100000, but in 1914
it amounted to 100000. If These
| 100000 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 eating as
we'll as the greatest meat producing
nation in the world. approximately
twice as much meat is consumed in
| this country as in Germany before the
war and the total normal consumption
| in Russia, Great Britain and France
is less than in Germany. The per cap
tia consumption is also far preatel
in this country 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 a great extent from
corn In the fiscal years 1914 and
1915 we imported more fresh, chilled
and frozen beef and mutton than we
exported, and more beef of all descrip-
lions was imported in 1914 than was
exported In this limited respect we
have joined the great majority Prac-
ticaIIy the whole of the worlds ex-
| mort trade in meat is maintained by
eight countries-Argentin Australia
Canada, Denmark, Mexico, under nor
NAL conditions, New Zealand, the
United States and Uruguay.