Cattle.
The war which ended in the year 1851, and, on account of its duration, was called the "Guerra Grande" (the great war), and the siege of Montevideo during nine years, contributed in a notable way to produce a diminution in the quantity of cattle and flocks which existed before in the Republic.
The census one year after that war (1852) only gave as the number of live stock 3,858,176, thus distributed: 1,888,622 cattle, 1,127,069 horses, 19,490 asses and mules, 796,289 sheep, 25,300 pigs, and 1,406 goats.
Eight years after (1860) when the second census was made, according to the declarations made for the payment of the Direct Contribution, there were 6,159,909 animals—that is to say: 3,632,203 cattle, 518,208 horses, 8,301 asses and mules, 1,939,929 sheep, 5,831 pigs, and 5,437 goats.
In 1886, when the farmers had still to pay the tax, according to the declarations, there were 23,967,263 animals—6,254,490 cattle, 17,245,977 sheep, 442,525 horses, 7,032 mules, 5,405 goats and 11,833 pigs.
These last figures, if compared with the former ones, prove an increase of 2,301,733 animals, or 59.65 per cent. over 1852, in favor of 1860; and of 20,109,087 animals, or 21.20 per cent. over 1852, in favor of 1886.
This increase could produce itself, notwithstanding the great quantity of animals killed every year for consumption, slaughter of the Saladeros and exportation of live stock, which represent considerable quantities.
If we bear in mind the increase that corresponds to every kind of live stock in these last years, and the quantities of animals possessed by many thousands of inhabitants who do not pay any tax for them, it may be said that the number of live stock and the value it represents in the Republic is more or less, as follows:
| Cattle alone for breeding, and young bulls ($6.00 each) | 8,000,000 | $48,000,000 |
| Oxen ($15.00 each) | 690,000 | 10,350,000 |
| Horses ($6.00 each) | 599,000 | 3,594,000 |
| Asses and mules ($12.00 each) | 11,000 | 132,000 |
| Sheep ($0.60 each) | 23,000,000 | 13,800,000 |
| Goats ($1.00 each) | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| Pigs ($6.00 each) | 23,000 | 138,000 |
| ————— | ————— | |
| Animals | 32,347,000 | $73,038,000 |
If we distribute the 32,347,000 of live stock of all kinds over the 186,920 kilometres which is the total superficies of the Republic, we find for each square kilometre 173.05 animals; if we distribute them among the 708,168 inhabitants, we find that 45.67 animals of all kinds correspond to each inhabitant.
As regards the value represented by live stock and corresponding to each inhabitant, we find $103.13 for each.
The following table shows what place the Republic occupies among other nations:
| Heads of | Cattle for | every | |
| 1,000 | inhabitants. | ||
| Cattle. | Sheep. | Horses. | |
| Uruguay Republic | 11,299 | 32,485 | 846 |
| Argentine Republic | 5,464 | 27,955 | 1,868 |
| Germany | 375 | 595 | 80 |
| Spain | 185 | 1,404 | 43 |
| France | 307 | 646 | 77 |
| Italy | 130 | 324 | 37 |
| Great Britain | 292 | 946 | 86 |
The rather cruel experience acquired during the crisis of the year 1890, the effects of which are still to be felt, has opened new ways to the economical activity of the country, and has given a new impulse to all agricultural pursuits. Notwithstanding the scarcity of capital and the difficulties of the ways of communication, the cattle feeding has improved a great deal, with the sowing of hay and pasture of all kinds, and with the crossing of the best varieties cattle imported from Europa or bred in many important national farms.
The improvement of the varieties, in order to obtain better flesh, fat, milk, butter, wool and hides, and the taming of all the native animals, is absolutely necessary, and therefore is a powerful attraction for those who would come over to this country and dedicate themselves to cattle feeding and breeding, being sure, beforehand, of getting good profits by exporting live animals and also dead animals, by the frigorific system, to the Brazilian and European markets.
The last two years have not been very favorable to cattle industry; but the present year shows itself as if going to be very propitious to that industry, which is in such a perfect harmony with the excellent qualities of our natural fields and meadows.
Here, no pest, no contagious disease is to be feared for the cattle. The forage and water are wholesome, nutritive and pure; the climate cannot be better.
With such conditions as these, it will be easily understood why cattle industry gives a profit of more than 20 per cent. and why it is generally a sufficient compensation to the scarce production of the bad years produced by an excessive dryness or a transitory diminution in the consumption of Brazil and Europe.