It is the second region, called "The Pastoral Zone," in which we are most interested. The other two concern us only in two respects: as a source of water supply, and as a hindrance to easy transportation.
"The Pastoral Zone" covers 300,000 square kilometers (187,500 square miles), and extends from East to West, from Barrancas, on the vertex of the Orinoco delta, to the plains of Sarare on the Colombian frontier; and from South to North from the Vichada River to the mountains of El Pao in the State of Carabobo. It includes the states of Portuguesa, Zamora, Cojedes, Apure, Guárico, Anzoátequi, Monagoas, Bolívar and part of the other neighboring states.
This entire region is most admirably suited for the raising of cattle. All year round there is an abundance of green grass and the cattle do not need much care. Here exists one of the finest natural pastures of the world, capable of supporting, with the use of modern methods, 50,000,000 head of cattle, twenty-five times the number now existing.
There are two seasons—wet and dry. During the rainy season, from June to October, the cattle feed in the highlands and mesas, which are not subject to inundation. From January to May, the dry season, they feed in the lowlands, which always retain a natural dampness and abundance of grass.
The climate of this zone is slightly warmer than that of the plains of Texas, and the dampness of the lowlands results in a much greater growth of vegetation suitable for cattle.
Throughout this region are scattered the cattle farms of the country, in most of which the primitive methods of cattle raising are still followed. The "llaneros," as the inhabitants of the plains are called, have not yet commenced to utilize the modern methods for breeding or raising cattle. The cattle run almost wild and considerable loss results from the lack of proper care. The milk is obtained almost entirely by the calf, and thus another great source of income is lost. This accounts for the importation of $400,000 worth of butter annually.
Each year the cattle over three years old are separated from the herd and slaughtered, although the slaughter of cows is prohibited, and General Gómez has absolute control over the slaughter of beef for home consumption. Then, until the next year, the cattle are again allowed to run wild and at will.
The reason for this apparent carelessness is the regrettable lack of sufficient labor to care for the herds. This is also the main reason for loss by disease and drought.
The Orinoco River, 1500 miles long, and 1900 miles long if measured by its Guaviare branch, lies entirely within Venezuela, and drains this great cattle section. It has 436 tributaries, and plays an important part in the transportation of cattle. Here lies the remedy for drought. No steps have yet been taken for the proper storage of water for emergency use; with the installation of water storing facilities the drought loss may be practically eliminated. The screw-worm of the kind existing on our Texas ranches is here in evidence and loss undoubtedly results from this source.
Malarial fever at times works havoc in various sections of the "llanos." Though it may be said that the effects of this disease are greatly exaggerated it is true that the disregard of the laws of hygiene is responsible for the wide prevalence of this disease. It is the supine ignorance of a portion of the half-savage people who inhabit the plains, which allows the disease to gain dangerous headway. These people live and eat in primitive fashion, drinking muddy water, eating badly cooked roots and beef, without salt, sleeping in the open nearly naked, and consuming at every opportunity huge quantities of coffee and spiritous liquors (aguardiente), thus becoming predisposed to end as victims of the dread disease. With the adoption of sanitary methods to combat the fever, it may be wiped out upon the plains, as is now happening in some of the better ranches where the workmen observe the elementary laws of hygiene.