Cattle. As to be expected, the live stock industry came first, requiring less labor. The early development was a natural one, cattle roaming freely over the plains and multiplying. From these wild herds, descendants of those brought over by early colonists, one could take all he wished up to 10,000-12,000 head, or more with permission from the Governor. But within the last 40 years much blooded stock has been imported from Europe, and scientific breeding has been practised. Twenty-five years ago the stock was estimated as worth $200,000,000. Of great value to the industry was the founding of the Argentina Rural Society in 1866; further, the discovery of the preservation of meat at freezing, and the arrangements for the transport of chilled meat. The numerous Stock Shows greatly contributed to improvements. Beginning at Palermo, Buenos Aires, in 1858, these have for many years been held there annually; others at various centres as at Rosario, Bahia Blanca, Santa Fé, Concordia, etc.
On the pampas all over the country cattle and sheep are raised, though areas are still open in less favorable or accessible districts. Further increase especially of cattle will depend to some extent on the improvement of more pasture lands by the cultivation of alfalfa and other pasturage. The utility of alfalfa, both as improving the land for wheat and as food for cattle was early recognized. Its introduction was a boon to raisers of stock including horses, the alfalfa growing on brackish lands formerly thought useless, as well as on wheat lands. On the largest estancias 20,000-50,000 acres are sometimes given to artificial pasturage chiefly alfalfa. This valuable forage to which 20,000,000 acres are devoted gives 3-4 crops a year, 6-8 tons to the acre.
A great advance in the quality of the stock naturally followed the importation between 1901-14 of pedigreed animals, some at fancy prices: $18,000 for a bull, several horses at $150,000 or more each; altogether 13,000 cattle, 35,000 sheep, 6000 horses, 3000 pigs, worth $14,000,000; in one year stock of various kinds worth $1,500,000. Most of these came from England. Durhams, Shorthorns, are most favored, but many Herefords are raised, Polled Angus, and other breeds. As dairy interests are developing, Durhams are preferred as good milkers as well as good meat. Of the 30,000,000 head of cattle existing before the War (recent figures are 25,900,000), the largest number was in the Province of Buenos Aires, about 7,000,000, with Santa Fé and Córdoba following; millions more are scattered in the Provinces and Territories from the extreme north almost to the extreme south. The export of live stock to neighboring countries has in peace times amounted to $9,000,000. In some districts drought has been a drawback to stock raising, yet it has been difficult to convince the small farmers of the desirability of artesian wells. Some persons have thought that as more land is irrigated for farming the amount of stock would diminish; but Martinez, the leading authority on such matters, states that 50,000 square leagues will remain exclusively for breeding. This extent of territory will support 40,000,000 horned cattle and 200,000,000 sheep, besides the millions which would be raised in the cultivated districts on the intensive principle. Patagonia has large regions suited only for stock raising.
Sheep cannot be allowed on the high priced land, ruining the alfalfa, so they are largely relegated to the outlying districts and to Patagonia; but some high bred sheep are found on model estancias. In the south the sheep are generally of Falkland and Romney Marsh origin, crossed with merinos; they are large and fat, weighing about 150 pounds, some over 200. Some proprietors produce fleece of 9 pounds weight. Thick, short wool is preferred, as frost on long wool prevents the animals moving and so causes great mortality in winter. In the north Lincolns are favored. The largest numbers of sheep are in Buenos Aires, Mesopotamia, San Luis, and Patagonia. During the War wool was in great demand, and in 1916-17, 350,000 bales were exported, two-thirds to the United States; in 1917-18, 181,000 tons, one fourth of which was washed. Diseases are practically unknown, and the increase sometimes reaches 112 per cent. A mortality of 20 per cent is due to cold weather. The number of sheep in 1915 was stated as 80,000,000; recent figures are 43,300,000. Some of the sheep ranches are very large, one in Santa Cruz having 100,000 acres fenced in; others have 50,000 acres or more.
Horses number about 10,000,000; Argentine racers are of the highest quality, as might be expected from the importation of high class blooded stock. Hogs number 3,000,000, goats over 4,000,000.
Packing Houses
The frigorificos are famous; extremely important and prosperous. British capital was early invested in this industry, both cattle raising and packing houses. In 1907 American capital began to turn in this direction. A Swift plant it is said made a profit of 35 per cent in 1916, one of Wilson with smaller investment, 300 per cent. Some plants are for canning also; besides there is meat extract, flour, tongues, soup, dried beef, etc., and by-products such as hides, hoofs, grease, etc. In 1919, 15 frigorificos were in operation, three in Buenos Aires, two in La Plata, three in Zarate, two in Santa Cruz, and one each in Bahia Blanca, General Lopez, Santa Fé, Campana, and Tierra del Fuego. Of these one belongs to Armour and three to Swift; the former was expecting a daily capacity of 2500 cattle, 5000 sheep, and 3000 hogs; others were to increase production. During the War the demand for meat as we know increased. Normally three-fourths of the amount exported is frozen beef, with mutton next in quantity; but in 1917 for war purposes canned meat was nearly half in weight of the frozen beef. The latter was valued at $77,000,000, the former at $37,000,000, the total meat export at $137,000,000. Due to millions spent on pedigreed stock, Argentine meat is of high quality.
In nine months of 1918 the export of stock products, $365,000,000, was 60 per cent of the total. Of meat export, frozen beef was more than half and canned beef a quarter. Wool both dirty and washed was a large item, also skins and fat. Cattle exported on the hoof, 143,000 head, were worth $4,200,000. Butter was a large item and cheese considerable. From 1908 to 1914 the increase had been in value 116 per cent. In four months of 1919, 1,000,000 head of cattle were slaughtered, 1,300,000 sheep, and 55,000 hogs; a larger number than in any corresponding period. The chief purchasers now are England, France, and Italy; but exports to other countries are likely to develop so that increase in stock raising is desirable and the prospect excellent. The cultivation of alfalfa has increased the capacity of different lands 3-25 times. It is the feeling on the part of some Argentines that the packing house industry now dominated by foreigners should be rather in the hands of natives; and it is hoped that by eliminating the excessive profits of the frigorificos, both stock raiser and consumer may receive a benefit.
Agriculture
Of late years agricultural products in ordinary times have outstripped stock raising in value, in some years of good crops being practically double. While regarded as preëminently an agriculture country, hardly more than one twelfth of the Argentine area is devoted to the industry although over one-third is arable land, about 250,000,000 acres. Yet the cultivated land has increased rapidly, being four times as large in 1916 as in 1872. Thirty-five thousand square miles are annually offered for sale. The average area of 62,000,000 acres of cultivated land varies by 2,000,000-3,000,000 from year to year. Of such land one-third is in the Province of Buenos Aires, one-fourth in Santa Fé, one-fifth in Córdoba, with Pampa Central, Entre Rios, San Luis, and other sections following in rapidly diminishing scale. While the area of wheat and linseed doubled, that of corn quadrupled, and of oats increased 30-fold; yet wheat is a long leader. The chief products cultivated are wheat, corn, flax, oats, barley, alfalfa, sugar cane, and the vine. Others of importance are tobacco, cotton, peanuts, potatoes, vegetables, yerba mate, mandioca, fruits, etc. In 1916 over 2,000,000 tons of wheat, and nearly 3,000,000 of corn were exported with some linseed, oats, and barley. In 1919-20 there was a decrease in acreage sown to wheat and corn, but a slight increase in linseed. A wheat crop of 5,000,000 tons is expected for 1921 with 3,200,000 for export; of linseed 1,000,000 tons.