The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-21
COLOMBIA A FIELD
FOR CATTLE RAISERS
Rich Pasturage Near Market
Is Unlimited.


According to advicesN just received by
the Mercantile Bank of the Americas,
New York, from the American Mercan-
tile Bank Of Colombia, opportunities for
the development OF stock raising In Co.
lombia are at the present time very at
tractive. The price of meat products il
continually advancing and at the same
time the worlds supply is annually be-
coming more restricted as greater
amounts OF the available pasture lands
are being claimed for agricultural pur-
poses. AS a result. within short time
we shall be forced to give our 8 attention
70 one OF Colombia's resources which
long ago should have provided fertile
field for the investment OF American
capital.
Colombia has some 10000, 900 hectares
Of land suited TO cattle raising Using
Argentina as n basis of comparison. we
can assume that one hectare could easily
sustain one animal. This means, there
fore, that Colombia Is capable OF sup
porting 10000, 900 cattle. At present the
, republic is said to contain about 7,000,-
0e0.
Regions adapted to cattle raising are
to be found in all parts OF Colombia from
the Peninsula Of Goajira, in the north
eastern corner. to the valley of the Patia,
! in the southwest. The pasture lands OF
the Goajira Peninsula are said to provide
almost unlimited resources for cattle
farming. and although the Indians have
large herds of cattle, at least 90 per cent
of the available pasture is lost in default
Of cattle to consume IL
Throughout all the important river
, valleys, including the Magdalena, the
Simu, the Atrato. the Cauca and the Pa
tia. are vast stretches which have long
been waiting the coming OF the cattle in
dustry. The most important locality
from the standpoint OF future possibill-
ties Is that which includes the Casanare
sabanas, extensive plains with natural
pastures, containing approximately co.
600 600 hectares.
In addition to its ample pasture land.
its geographical proximity to the mar
kets OF the United States and Europe
gives Colombia a decided advantage over
Argentina In any competition which
might take place with that country,
From six TO ten days should suhl,e to
secure delivery in the case OF meat
shipped from the Atlantic ports, while
not over eight to fourteen would be
needed for that exported from Buena-
ventura through the Panama Canal,
In relation to other industries stock
raising has decided advantage because
of the small amount of labor required for
450. 900 square miles, ColombiR's popula-
ton totals only some 5000 900. as a re-
suit of which any industry requiring n
large supply OF labor might meet with
considerable difficulty along this limo
For stock raising however. the labor
item is relatively small and there should
be no difficulty In securing plenty OF
skilled stock herders. especially as the
natives take naturally to this form OF
work
At the present time the lands nearer
the sea coast or navigable rivers offer
the most inducements. for transportation
to interior ports is poor In selecting
lands for cattle raising it should also he
borne in mind that the Atlantic ports
provide better shipping facilities than the
Pacific ports. and are also nearer the
leading markets. 49,
American capital interested In devel-
oping business along this line In Colon
bia will ind banking facilities supplied
by the American Mercantile Bank OF CO.
lombia, the only bank in Colombia hav-
Ing complete chain Of branches in that
country.