The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1918-07-04
POPULATION GROWS;
MEAT SUPPLY DECLINES
GOVERNMENT EXPERTS FoRsEE
SERIOUS PROBLEM TO BE
IN NOT FAR DISTANT
FUTURE.

J Washington July with the pop
ulation OF the world increasing faster
than the growth in the meat supply
government experts foresee a serious
problem to be solved in the not far
distant future.
The situation in the United States
has reached an interesting stage.
Within the last ten years, the popu-
iiation has increased about is per
cent while the herds OF the nation
which brought the meat industry to its
present high development have de-
clined 20 per cent. In Europe the
condition Is even more serious be-
cause OF depletion due to the war.
Australia and New Zealand continue
to produce great quantities of meat
but the distance to the congested cen
ters of population adds much TO the
expense Of marketing. South Amer
ica's vast fields and splendid heritage,
therefore, are being looked TO as the
source of supply. now as well as after
the war.
Argentina Is today the most i'm
portant meat producing country in
the world, according to review of
meat packing in South America by the
I.atin-American Division OF the Blu
reau OF Foreign and Domestic Com
MERGE Uruguay also Is becoming a
center OF the iriusry and Brazil.
Paraguay, Colombia and Venezuela TO
a less extent. Out oi d total of 9l5,-
647 tons OF beef, mutton and lamb pro-
duced In 1916, Argentina produced
436,405 tons, New Zeaidnd and Aus
tralia 262,176 tons, the United States
so, 522 tons. Urusay 1895 tons,
Brazil 1851 tors Canada 2l,723 tons
and other countries the remainder.
Development OF cattle breeding in
South America has been direct re-
suit of the discovery of refrigeration
Until the practice of freezing meat
was introduced South American COM
merce in meat was negligible, being
confined to the shipment of low
grade smoked or sailed beef, for
which there was little sale. When
American and British capital estab-
lished plants in Argentina and Uru-
quay, and later in other countries for
freezing or chilling meat so that it
could be shipped fresh across the
ocean, commanding high prices and
being in great demand, native ranch
men began to improve their stock by
the introduction of thoroughbreds.
AS a result. millionaire ranchmen in
Argentina AMI Uruguay are almost as
plentiful as millionaire oil men in
Oklahoma. Frozen meat is being
used extensively by the allied armies
and the flow Of gold in the worlds
commerce has been showing an in
creasing trend toward South America.
Meat packing in Argentina has
been SO successful because IL was
pared the herdships which new in
dustry usually encounters. Profiting
by American experience. the plants
were established along modern lines
without costly experiment. A market
already had been created in Europe
by the shipment of frozen meat from
the United States. Argentina is now
seeking to increase her herds to keep
pace with the capacities of the pack
ing houses. while Brazil is endeav-
oring to augment the number of pack
ing houses to handle the plentiful
supply of stock. The Brazilian gov
eminent is giving every encourage
ment to breeders to improve their
strain of cattle.
Columbia has Offered a subsidy Of
10000 pounds to the first packing
house established in that country.
Columbia has approximately 100000
head of cattle, which can be exported
now only on the hoof. American,