The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-20
War Decrease in Livestock Now
Totals lis Million Head.
Burden Now Falls Heaviest on
United States.
EXPORTS UP THREE FOLD
339,OOO,OOO Pounds Compared
With 493,sOO,OOO Before War.
Z. S. Food Board Faces Grave
Problem in Control.

Washington. Aug. 2O.-The problem
of supplying the allies with meat has
devolved mainly on the United States
and the daily burden is growing more
onerous according to statement is
sued by the food administration today
Wartime demands have been so great
that Europe has been making alarm
ing inroads on it's herds with a conse-
quent reduction in it's domestic supply.
Since the war started there has
been a total decrease of 115, 055, 900 in
the worlds supply of meat producing
animals. Cattle increased 100000 in
the United States, while the total
world decrease was 2S,0S0.000. Sheep
decreased 100000 in this country,
while the world supply was diminished
by 54,5OO,0OO. Hogs increased 6,275,
900 in America, but the general sup
ply decreased 32,425, 900. During the
year ending June 80, 1916, America
exported 1,339,193, 900 pounds of meat
as compared with a three-year ante
bel1um average of 493. 900 pounds.
These exports went chiefly to the al
lies, whose stock of animals has de-
creased 100000 head.
Workmen Demand Meat.
Attic the European countries have
drastically reduced meat consumption,
among war workers." says the state
ment, this saving has been overcome
by the greatly increased demands to
supply men in the armies and shops,
and women who have taken up phys
ical labor. Millions of individuals to
whom fresh meat twice a week was a
luxury are now by necessity of their
extreme physical labor, eating it twice
daily.
THE war has injected into an al
ready difficult situation a number of
vicious conditions which are leopard
izing the ultimate, animal products
supply of the world. The production
of fodder in Europe has been dimin-
ished by the diversion of productive
labor to war and its import has been
curtailed by shortage in shipping and
by the isolation of markets by belliger-
ent lines.
U-BOat Destruction a Cause.
1.-The problem facing America is rot
only of supplying the immediate de
mands of the allies but one which is
more far reaching in its Significance.
AS the war goes on there will be a con-
slant lessening of the capital stock of
the worlds food animals. Among our
western allies, the demand further
outruns the production and, as ship
ping becomes further shortened by
submarine destruction, further des-
truction of the herds must ensue."
The food administration points out
that the only immediate solution of
the problem lies in reduction of con-
sumption and elimination of waste.
III. c. for Years to Come.
Meantime, to protect all our peo-
pie, we must carefully control our
meat exports" the statement says.
Herbert Hoover warns America that
"a high range of prices for meat and
and animal products for many years
to come" confronts this country, he
said. Fabulously high prices in Eu-
rope and America will extend to lard,
butter. cheese, leather. fats, oils and
woods.
He advocated government control of
this country's meat exports
He called upon Americas livestock
feeders to at once lay plans for enor-
mously increased herds and flocks He
pleaded that all rich, well-to-do mid
die class and other non-manual Ia
borers in the United States greatly re-
duce- their meat consumption and
leave more for the fighting men and
male and female war workers of al
lied lands. He cautioned the allies
that large amounts of meat from
northern neutrals are being diverted
to Germany" and offered this as an
added reason for regulation of Amer
lean exports.
AS a meat conservation measure for
America in this crisis he suggested
that our comparatively little utilized
fish supply be thoroly harvested, well
marketed and more generally eaten.