The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-07-18
MEAT PROBLEM
CONTINUES To
GROW SERIOUS

WNSuINGTON. Joly Is. with 49,"
population Of the world iucr"asj"-
faster than the growth in the meat
supply. government experts lorscc 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-
lation has increased about Is per cent
while the herds of the nation which
brought the meat industry to its pres
ent high development have declined
% per cent. In Europe the condi-
ton is even more serious because of
depletion due to the war. Australia
and New Zealand continue to produce
great quantities of meat, but the dis
! lance to the congcsted centers of pop
ulatiOn adds much to the expense of
marketing South Americas vast fields
and splendid heritage, therefore, are
being lOkcd to as the source of sup
Iply now a swell as after the war
I Argentina is today the most impor-
tant beef producing country in the
world. according to a review of meat
packing in South America by the Latin
American division of the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce. Uru-
quay also is becoming center OF the
industry. and Brazil, Colombia. and
Venezuela to a less extent out o.
a total Of 9l7.349 tons Of beef, NUT
ton and lamb produced in 1916. Ar
gentina produced 43G.345 onts, New
Zealand and Australia 2G2,176 tons,
the United States So.522 tons, Uru-
quay 1885 tons. Brazil 35,57l tons,
Canada 2l.723 tons and other countries
the remainder.
Development of cattle breeding in
South America has been a 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 established plants in
Argentina and Uruguay, and later in
other countries for freezing and chill
ing meat so that it could be shipped
fresh across the ocean. commanding
high prices and being in ggeat de-
prove their stock by this introduction
of thoroughbreda
As a result. millionaire ranchmen in
Argentina and 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 che worth'S
commerce has been showing an in.
creasing trend toward South America.
Meat packing in Argentina has been
so successful because it Was spared
the hardships which new industry
usually encounters. Profiting by the
American experience, the plants were
along modern lines without
costly experiment. \ market already
had been created in Europe by the
shipment OF frozen meat from the
United States. Argentina is now seek
ing to increase her herds to keep pace
with the capacities OF the packing
houses. while Brazil Is endeavoring to
augment the number OF packing houses
to handle the plentiful supply OF stock.
The Brazilian government is giving
every encouragement to breeders to
improve the strain Of their cattle.
Colombia has offered subsidy Oh
ten thousand pounds to the first pack
ing house established in that coun-
try. Colombia has approximately l.
600 ,OOO head of cattle. which can be
exported now only on the hoof. Amer
lean. British and Swedish farmers are
reported to be investigating the sub
sidy offer.