The midland journal., 1917-08-24
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ping becomes Iurtler SnOrIeueu ny COli-
tinued submarine. destruction, less ton
mage can be devoted to fodder, and fur
ther reduction of the herds must en-
sue. These destructive forces have
given rise to reactions in many direc-
tions. The worlds supply of meat and
dairy products, of animal fats and in
dustrial fats, wool and hides, are all
involved not only now. but for far into
the future.
Meats.
The immediate problem is to fur
nish increased meat supplies to the al
lies to maintain them during the war.
An important factor contributing to the
present situation lies in the disturb
ance to the worlds trade by destruc-
tion of shipping resulting in throwing
a larger burden on North America, the
nearest market Shipments from the
Australasian, South American and
from the continental countries into the
allied countries have been interfered
with. Their contributions must be re-
placed by increased shipments from
North America.
The growth of American meat eX-
ports since the war began, most of
which have been supplied by allied ma
tions, is revealed by the following fig
ures:
Three-year pre-war average, 493,-
$4,000 pounds.
Year ending June So 1916, 1889,
10000 pounds.
The impact of European demand
upon our animal products will be
maintained for a long period of years
after peace. We can contemplate a
high range of prices, for meat and
for animal products for many years to
come. We must undertake to meet the
demand not only during the warNso as
to enable our allies to continue to fight,
but we must be prepared to meet the
demand after the war. Our herd can
not be increased in a single night or
in single year. Our producers will
not only be working in their own ul-
innate interest in laying the founda-
ton of larger herds and fiocks, but
interest of humanity, for years to come,
if the best strains. of young animals
are preserved. The increase in herds
can only be accomplished if we save
more of our roughage and raise more
fodder grains. 1t is worth noting that
after the war Europe with lessened
herds will, pending their recuperation,
require less fodder and will therefore
produce more bread grains and i'm
port less of them, so that we can after
the war safely reduce our bread grain
production to increase our fodder. But
we must lay our foundation in the
meantime to increase our herds.
There is only one immediate solution
to the short supply of meat for eX-
port pending the increase in our herds
and fiocks which will take years. Dur
ing the course of the war, we can, just
as with the cereals reduce the con-
sumption and eliminate the waste par
ticularly among those classes which
can best afford it. In the meantime, in
order to protect all of our people, we
must carefully control our meat ex-
ports in order that the people shall not
be denied this prime necessity of life.
Dairy Products.
The worlds dairy supplies are de-
creasing rapidly for two important rea-
sons. First, the dairy cattle of Eu-
rope are diminishing, for Europe is be-
ing driven to eat its cattle for meat;
second, the diversion of labor to war
has decreased the fodder supplies and
the shortage of shipping has limited
the amount of imported fodder and
therefore the cattle which can be sup
ported and the productivity of the indi-
vidual COW have been reduced. Even
our own dairy supplies are not keeping
pace with our growth of population, for
our per capita milk supply has fallen
from 80 to 70 gallons annually in the
past Is years. Yet today we must ship
increasing amounts of dairy products
to our allies.
The dairy supplies of the allies in
normal times came to considerable
degree from western Scandinavia, Hol-
land and Switzerland, but under Ger
man pressure these supplies are now
partly diverted to Germany. The men
under arms and the wounded must be
supplied with condensed milk in large
quantities. The net result of these
conditions, despite rigorous reduction
of consumption among the adults of the
civil population in Europe, is that our
allies are still short of large quantities
and again the burden of the replace
ment of this shortage must fall on
North America. The growing exports
of dairy products from the United
States to the allies are shown in the
following table:
Three year Year ending
average. June 80, 1913
Butter ...... 4,457, 900 lbs. 13,4S7 coo lbs
Cheese ........ 3,7sO.O00 lbs. 44,394, eco lbs
Cond milk. II .792, 900 lbs. 1857 GOO lbs
The high price of fodder and meat in
the United States during the past few
months induced by the pressing Euro