35
it.—29B
Cattle. —For beef-production the Shorthorn, Aberdeen Angus, Galloway, and i-Lccturd are the principal breeds. The Hereford are considered the best, range cattle, being great rustlers, for dairy purposes the Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein, and Jersey are the principal breeds. Sheep. —ln the United States the principal breed is the American merino. Of the mutton breeds the Shropshire takes front rank, then the South Down, Oxford Down, Horned Dorset, Leicester, Cotswold, and Lincoln. There are some Cheviots and Hampshires. In Canada the principal breeds are the Shropshire, South Down, Leicester, Oxford Down, Horned Dorset, and Lincoln. Swine. —ln the United States the Poland-China holds about first position. This breed was evolved in Ohio State. Many European breeds entered into the formation of this peculiar type. The Duroo-Jersey, another American-bred pig, is also popular. Amongst other breeds are the Berkshire, Tamworth, Hampshire, and Yorkshire. In Canada the principal breeds arc Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Tamworth. There is a general impression that the farmers of the United States of America and Canada are in a position to feed the rest of the world. Whilst both these countries are well to the front in the production of cereals, when it comes to five-stock statistics tell another tale. These, taken from reliable sources in regard to live-stock in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, go to prove that, whether compared on a population or acreage basis, New Zealand leads in both cattle and sheep. In horses and swine both the United States and Canada are ahead of New Zealand, as the following figures show : — POPULATION. United States of America (census 1912) .. ... 95,410,503 Canada (census .191.1) ... ... ... .. ... 7,204,772 New Zealand (census' 191 I) ... ... ... ... 1,021,066 FAKM ANIMALS. Horses. Cattle. Sheep. Swine. United States of America ( 191 I) ... 20,962,000 57,592,000 49,719,000 58,933,000 Canada (1.914) ... ... ... 3,000,000 6,036,817 2,058,045 3,434,261 (1915.) New Zealand (191 1) ... 100,000 2,020,171 25,000,000 383,000 From statistics available of a reliable character it. is evident, that the consuming population 'both of the United States and Canada is increasing steadily, while their meat-supply is appreciably declining. The market shortage in connection with the cattle-raising industry in both the United States and Canada is an important fact which the public of these countries have not yet full)- realized. Tlie consumers have complained about the high price of meat, and have accused the producers of securing too great profits from the business. The present shortage, however, is due primarily to the fact that farmers have found meat-production, particularly beef-production, less profitable than other agricultural enterprises. Overproduction and cheap) meat in these countries, while possible, are extremely remote. It is said that an increased supply will come not as a result of lower prices, but only as a result of higher prices, and that for a generation or more consumers have been able to buy meat products at a price which does not cover the cost of production under present-day conditions. It is contended that the conditions which have brought about the increased cost of meat products will continue to operate even in greater force in the future than in the past. The development of improved and intensified farming methods, the introduction of maize silage, lucerne, and other forage crops, the more complete utilization of waste roughage, and increased attention to manure as a means of maintaining the fertility of the soil, will tend to render cattle-production more practicable. In the United States, in cattle, sheep, and swine, there has been a positive decline in numbers extending back for over fifteen years. From the census of 1899 to that of 1909 cattle had declined from 50,000,000 head to 11,000,000; sheep from 61,000,000 to 52,000,000; swine from 63,000,000 to 58,000,000. The tendency since 1909 is still towards a further decline in numbers, and yet during the period since 1899 the population of the States lias increased over 20,000,000. So serious is the situation in the matter of meal-supply in tin. 1 United States that a committee has been set, up by the Federal Parliament consisting of the best authorities available to study the subject and report. The effect of this absolute decline in meat-production on the fresh-meat export, trade in. the United States can be gauged by the following figures: Quantity of fresh meat exported in 1901, 351,748,333 Ib.; quantity of fresh meat exported in 1.914, 6,394,4041b. With the meat and meat-products market of the United States now tin-own open, Argentina has become a large exporter to the States. From October, 1913, to September, 1914, inclusive, the Argentine exported to the United States meat as follows : — j b Fresh and refrigerated-meat —Beef ... ... .. ... 139,963,528 Other than beef ... ... 7,296,340 Canned and cured meats ... ... ... ■■■ ... 2,740,016 Other meat-food products ... ... ... ... ... 3,882,786 Total ... ... ... ... ... 153,882,670
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