146 THE YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 1964 obtained by planting alfalfa pastures in the fertile Pampa of Argentina. Most countries have developed or enlarged programs of research for improving breeds, eradicating live- stock diseases, and promoting the Meat Production sale of meat products in world trade. Substantial progress has been made in the United States in improving breeds of beef cattle to obtain a more and Trade uniform carcass with less waste and with breeds of hogs to yield more lean meat and less fat. by DWIGHT R. BISHOP A more uniform lamb carcass has been developed in New Zealand by crossing Southdown rams with ewes of the Romney breed. The Santa Gertrudis and Brangus THE NUMBER OF MEAT animals and the have been developed from crosses be- production of meat reflect the prosper- tween Indian and English breeds to ity of a country, consumers' incomes, obtain an animal that produces meat increases in population and living efficiently in hot climates. standards, favorable prices, and indus- The eradication or control of dis- trial growth, all of which started to eases has lowered livestock mortality. rise at the end of the Second World An example is the extensive and War. costly eradication program conducted The world production of meat against foot-and-mouth disease in reached a record 112 billion pounds in Mexico. The disease broke out in 1963 and was about 3 percent larger 1946 and was brought under complete than the 109 billion pounds produced control in 1955 at a cost of more than in 1962 and 38 percent above the 130 million dollars to the United 1951-1955 average. States Government and a great eco- The rise in the production of meat nomic loss to Mexican stockmen. since 1951 more than equaled the rise Slaughterhouses and freezing and in population, and meat consumption processing facilities have been con- per capita went up in most countries. structed or modernized in Australia, A 4-percent gain in 1962 was the New Zealand, Africa, Central Ameri- largest on record and was about twice ca, South America, the Soviet Union, that of population growth. Yugoslavia, Poland, and elsewhere. Other factors also influenced the More eflftcient design and layout of production and consumption of meat. slaughterhouses and their location in Most of the major livestock- and the main producing areas have lowered meat-producing countries improved marketing costs in the United States. range management, production tech- A greater use of trucks for transporting niques, and feeding practices. livestock in other meat-producing Examples are the planting of im- countries has reduced loss in weight proved grasses and distribution of between farm and slaughterhouse. fertilizer by airplanes in the steep terrain of New Zealand, the construc- THE GREATEST differences in diets in tion of tanks for storing water in the less-developed countries and the more arid parts of Australia, the shift from developed regions lie in the use of live- crop production to livestock hus- stock products. bandry in the Southeastern States, Poverty has been mainly responsible. and a much higher carrying capacity The demand for livestock products has MEAT PRODUCTION AND TRADE 147 risen sharply once incomes began to which spreads protozoan parasites and rise. Estimates based on the expected prevents the successful raising of cattle. growth of population and incomes sug- India had the world's largest cattle gest that the demand for meat may population, estimated at 235 million in grow about 5 percent a year in the less- 1964, but since religious policies pro- developed countries. hibited their slaughter, people derived In general, the number of livestock little nutritional benefit from them. in relation to the human population The United States ranked second, with was not significantly lower in less de- 104 million. The Soviet Union was veloped than in more developed re- third, with 87 million. gions, but the small production of live- The number of hogs in the world rose stock products was the result of low in 1963 to 496 million head, i percent productivity per animal. over 1962 and 43 percent above the The output of meat per head of the 1951-1955 average. Steadily increas- cattle population in Europe, for ex- ing production in all geographical ample, was estimated to be about i o areas since 1956 was the result of a times greater than in the Far East and growing population, adequate supplies 7 times greater than in Africa. In- of feed, and favorable prices. The creased supplies of livestock products largest increases were in the Soviet in those regions would depend less on Union, South America, and western increasing the number of animals and Europe. more on raising the output per animal. Sheep numbered 991 million head in The difference in productivity was 1963, about 18 percent above the aver- due mainly to bad management, prim- age for 1951-1955- Some sheep were itive breeding practices, and failure to produced in almost every country, but prevent or control diseases and para- 15 countries had three-fourths of the sites that lower production. world total. There were more than a billion cattle Australia (160 million head), Russia in the world in 1964. Since 1950 their (140 million), New Zealand (50 mil- numbers have increased about i .5 per- lion), and Argentina (47 million) had cent annually—19 percent above the 40 percent of the total in 1963. 1951-1955 average. The main reason Sheep were the main form of live- was the high prices for beef because of stock in the Near East, where vegeta- strong consumer demand. tion generally is too sparse for cattle A large proportion of the cattle were and little pork is eaten. Sheep and unproductive, however, or at a low goats provide the chief source of meat level of productivity. in large areas of Africa. The more productive were in the In the Sahara and surrounding arid more developed regions of North Amer- parts of northern Africa, several million ica, Europe, and Oceania, where the people depend on nomadic pastoralism demand for beef and per capita con- for meat and other livestock products. sumption were high. Sheep, goats, and camels are the only Asia, despite a cattle and buffalo kinds of livestock that are adaptable population of 400 million head, was a there, and they must be moved often to meat-deficient area. Cattle numbers new areas in search of pasture. during 1959-1964 increased rapidly in those countries because of a rising ABOUT HALF of the world's meat sup- standard of living, notably in Japan ply in 1963 consisted of beef, 41 per- and Taiwan, but in some Asian coun- cent of pork, and 8 percent of lamb, tries religious objections to the con- mutton, and goatmeat. The remaining sumption of beef exist. I percent was horsemeat. This propor- The cattle in Africa mostly were of tion has remained about the same for poor quality. Cattle in 4 million square more than a decade. miles of Africa are prey to the tsetse fly, The United States and the Soviet 148 THE YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 1964 Union accounted for 40 percent of the portance. The 1963 output of about i world's meat production. The United billion pounds was i percent of meat States produced twice as much as the production in the world. As the use of Soviet Union and accounted for more tractor-powered farm machinery con- than one-fourth of the world supply. tinues to increase, the numbers of Ten countries in 1963 accounted for horses and the production of horsemeat about three-fourths of the world's should decline further. production of 112 billion pounds of meat. The United States led with 31 THE UNITED STATES consumes more billion pounds; next was the Soviet meat than any other country—32 Union, with 15 billion. West Germany, billion pounds in 1963. Consumers in France, and Argentina all produced the United States ate 33 percent of more than 5 billion pounds. The other the world's supply of beef and veal, five—Brazil, the United Kingdom, 28 percent of the pork, and 11 percent Australia, Poland, and Italy—ranged of the lamb, mutton, and goatmeat. from almost 3 billion to more than 4 On a per capita basis, however, the billion pounds of meat. United States consumption of 167 Estimates for mainland China are pounds in 1963 was exceeded by New not included in my figures, although Zealand (233 pounds), Australia (215), China probably was the world's third Uruguay (213), and Argentina (198 largest producer. It is estimated that pounds). China had 120 million head of hogs The Australians and New Zealanders in 1963 and a relatively high slaughter were the largest consumers of lamb rate, but the average slaughter weight and mutton—99 pounds per person in undoubtedly was low. Hogs, which can 1963. Argentina, the major beef con- utilize byproducts and waste materials, sumer, had a per capita consumption are the main livestock in China. of 168 pounds in 1963. Beef output in 1962 totaled 54.7 bil- Per capita consumption of meat in lion pounds. The United States, the Asia was low. It amounted to only leading producer, accounted for 16.3 10 pounds in Japan in 1963. Per billion. The Soviet Union was sec- capita consumption in Russia aver- ond, with 5.5 billion; Argentina, third, aged 65 pounds and was lower than with 4.7 billion; and France, fourth, in all countries of western Europe, with 3.6 billion. The four countries except Greece, Italy, Portugal, and accounted for 55 percent of the world's Spain. In all South American coun- beef output. tries except Argentina and Uruguay, The world output of pork was 44.2 per capita consumption was less than billion pounds in 1962, an increase of 80 pounds. 2.5 billion pounds over 1961 and a 35- percent increase within a decade. The WORLD TRADE in meat has increased United States produced 11.8 billion 50 percent since 1953. Many coun- pounds; Russia, 6.9 billion; West tries had some volume of trade, but Germany, 3.9 billion; and France, 2.3 relatively few handled the bulk of the billion. The four accounted for about commerce. New Zealand, Denmark, three-fourths of the supply of pork. Argentina, and Australia accounted The world output of lamb, mutton, for about 60 percent of the world's and goatmeat in 1962 was 8.7 billion meat exports in 1963. pounds. The 1951-1955 average was The United Kingdom and the 6.3 billion. The Soviet Union pro- United States together imported three- duced 2.2 billion pounds. Australia fourths of the world's meat shipments. was second, with 1.3 billion. The The United Kingdom alone accounted United States and New Zealand each for more than half of the total. produced about 800 million pounds. The United States and the United Horsemeat has dwindled in im- Kingdom received almost three-fourths MEAT PRODUCTION AND TRADE 149 of the total beef imports in 1963. The European Common Market consisted United Kingdom was the market for of beef supplied largely by Argentina 70 percent of the pork and more than and variety meats mostly from the three-fourths of the lamb and mutton United States. in world trade. Australian exports were largely beef; THE AMERICAN livestock industry pro- 74 percent was marketed in the United duces meat almost exclusively for States and 17 percent in the United American consumption. Kingdom in 1962. The proportion Foreign producers generally have going to the United States market has been unable to compete with domestic increased sharply since 1958. The 1962 producers in the production of meat of shipments were approximately double uniformly high quality that Americans those of the previous year. require. Foreign producers, however, Beef and veal made up about 85 have been able to market in the United percent of Argentina's meat exports in States a sizable amount of boneless 1962. More than half was received by beef and mutton, used for manufac- the United Kingdom and most of the turing, and specialty products, prin- remainder by countries of the Euro- cipally canned hams. pean Common Market. The United States has been the only Because of United States quarantine country in which significant numbers regulations that forbid imports of of beef cattle were fed grain in order fresh or frozen meat from countries to produce a higher grade of beef than where foot-and-mouth disease is preva- would be obtained from fattening on lent, Argentine exports to the United grass pastures. States were limited to the cooked or Consumption of beef has increased canned products. as population and incomes have risen. New Zealand's meat exports con- The demand for beef has been rising sisted predominantly of lamb and steadily. Annual per capita consump- mutton, almost 90 percent of which tion of beef in the United States has was sold to the United Kingdom. A gone from 55 pounds in 1938 to 93 substantial amount of beef went to the pounds in 1963. A growing proportion United States. of this beef comes from grain-fed cattle. The United Kingdom has long been The number of fed cattle produced has the major importer of meat. Of the increased from 30 percent of total 2,650 million pounds received in 1962, cattle marketed to more than 60 per- 937 million consisted of pork, more cent since 1935. The cattle-feeding than two-thirds of it supplied by industry has been expanding rapidly. Denmark; 789 million consisted of Many new commercial lots have been lamb and mutton, more than four- built, and existing feedlots have ex- fifths of which was supplied by New panded capacity. Zealand; 733 million consisted of beef, Beef production has become an at- more than half of which was supplied tractive enterprise for United States by Argentina. farmers. Beef cattle use roughages that The United States was the second would otherwise be wasted. They re- largest meat importer and the leading quire a minimum of labor compared beef importer in 1962. Of the 1,253 to other agricultural enterprises. Feed million pounds of meat received, 971 prices have been favorable compared million consisted of beef, of which with prices of fed cattle. Emphasis on Australia and New Zealand supplied soil conservation has increased the two-thirds. Most of the remainder acreage and quality of forages. consisted of pork products, largely These encouraging factors have led canned hams from Denmark, the to rapid changes in the cattle indus- Netherlands, and Poland. try. There have been shifts in produc- Most of the meat imports into the tion areas of fed cattle. I50 THE YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 1964 The States in the Corn Belt have Imports of beef in 1962 increased to been dropping their share of total out- an alltime high of 1.5 billion pounds, put. In 1963, 67 percent of the cattle equivalent to nearly 9 percent of on feed were in the Corn Belt; 83 United States production. Of the percent were fed there in 1930. Most beef imports, 86 percent was frozen, of the shift has been to the West. boneless beef, used primarily for man- More than five times as many cattle ufacturing; another 9 percent was were on feed in the Western States in canned beef, a product which is not 1963 as in 1935. Washington had 16 made to any extent in the United times the number on feed in the early States. Little bone-in or chilled beef, thirties; California, 12 times as many; the product that would compete and Arizona, 8 times. directly with American production, Indications are that the South, was imported. which in 1963 had a relatively small Boneless beef is produced largely output of fed cattle, is becoming more from overaged cows and bulls. The interested in this industry. In the meat is too tough for use as beef- Mississippi Delta, the Tennessee Val- steaks and roasts and would generally ley, and along the Atlantic coast, im- be equivalent to the American Canner proved transportation and favorable and Gutter grade—the lowest grade in prices for midwestern grain has en- USDA grading standards. The bone is couraged local fattening of cattle. removed from practically all of this The number of cattle and calves on type of beef entering international farms has moved up steadily since 1958 trade. It is then packed in cartons and and reached a record of 104 million frozen. Meat thus packaged and proc- head on January i, 1963. Even more essed can be shipped and handled important is that those kept for beef more efficiently and economically production totaled 75 million head, than in the whole or half carcass a rise of 16 million head, or 26 per- form. It can be packed more closely cent over the 59 million head on farms in the holds of ships, and there is a as of January i, 1958. saving in freight costs because the Individual demand for pork has weight of the bones is eliminated. been falling. Per capita consumption Boneless beef usually is ground in a of pork declined from 68 pounds in meat chopper. It can then be sold as 1947 to 64 pounds in 1963. Never- hamburger or blended with other theless, because of population increase, types of meat and processed into pork production in the United States frankfurters and other sausage. has been increasing and in 1963 was Imports of boneless beef supplied a record 12 billion pounds, compared lower grade processing meat, which to 11.4 billion in 1961 and an average during 1958-1963 was not produced of 10.8 billion in 1951-1955. domestically in sufficient quantity to The demand for lamb in the United meet a strong demand. Low-grade States appears to have declined stead- cows, which provided most of the ily. The average annual decrease in processing meat, made up less than 10 demand since 1947 has been larger percent of domestic cattle slaughter in than the increases caused by the ef- the United States. fects of increases in income and popu- Australia and New Zealand supplied lation. Production of lamb and mut- three-fourths of the fresh or frozen ton in 1963—710 million pounds— beef imports in 1963. Ireland and was the lowest since 1958. The num- Mexico also were important exporters ber of sheep on farms in 1963 was the of boneless beef to the United States. smallest since 1950. Argentina was the main source of Imports of meat into the United canned beef. States in 1962 reached a record level Imports of mutton reached a record of 1.8 billion pounds, carcass weight. 65 million pounds, product weight, in MEAT PRODUCTION AND TRADE 151 1962. Imported mutton, all of it from types of livestock have proved adapt- Australia and New Zealand, was used able. This has been primarily a largely in frankfurters and other man- sheep grazing area, where about one- ufactured products and thus did not third of Argentina's sheep, but rela- compete directly with American lamb. tively few cattle, are raised. Imports of lamb were relatively small, North of the Pampa is Mesopo- compared with domestic production. tamia—the land between the rivers. Imports in 1962 were equivalent to This subtropical area has heavy rain- less than 2 percent of United States fall, gently rolling terrain, and out- lamb production. croppings of rock. The soils are less Most of the pork imported into the fertile than those of the Pampa. Most United States was in the form of animals have been raised on unim- canned hams from Denmark, Poland, proved pastures of relatively low pro- and the Netherlands. Considered a ductivity. As transportation facilities specialty item, imported hams have have not been highly developed, usually sold at prices higher than producers must drive livestock con- American hams. siderable distances to loading points. The United States has produced a Ticks and tick fever were widespread surplus of variety meats, principally in this zone. Cattle have been fairly livers, kidneys, and tongues. Our heavily concentrated here; sheep are exports of variety meats have been raised extensively in one part. increasing steadily, and in 1962 they To the west of Mesopotamia lies the amounted to 125 million pounds. Chaco, an arid, semitropical expanse The Common Market countries, a of scrubland extending up into Para- leading outlet for variety meats in guay. This section suffers from periodic 1963, bought about two-thirds of droughts and excessive soil salinity. total shipments. The United Kingdom Much of it is almost completely barren, imported most of the remainder. although a fairly large population of cattle was scattered over most of the ARGENTINA, a large country, extends region. Ticks have been prevalent across 33 degrees of latitude and here also. covers i. i million square miles. About Although conditions vary widely 80 percent of the cattle, 85 percent of from one part of the country to the the hogs, and half of the sheep were other, livestock operations have tended concentrated in the Pampa, a region to be relatively large. According to the of about 150 million acres, or 21 per- census of i960 in the Pampa, there cent of the land area of Argentina. were 122 properties, each containing The Pampa, a level plain, extends cattle herds of more than i o thousand in a rough semicircle from Buenos head. Approximately 40 percent of the Aires to a radius of about 300 miles. cattle were in herds of more than a Its fertile soil supports luxuriant, thousand. Most of the livestock pro- improved pastures, usually of alfalfa, ducers in the Pampa stocked sub- and produces most of Argentina's small stantial numbers of sheep on their grain and corn. The mild climate and properties in addition to cattle. well-distributed rainfall make the area In Patagonia, landholdings and an ideal cattle country. Green forage herds were large. Livestock operations is available yearlong. Rail and high- in Mesopotamia and the Chaco as a way networks have been highly de- rule were somewhat larger than in the veloped. The country's major centers Pampa. of consumption, industry, and com- Only in exceptional cases has pas- merce are in this region. tureland been used fully. While most Patagonia, a rolling, semiarid region, ranches were fenced and cross-fenced, is covered with scrub trees and coarse the subdivisions were usually much grass. Winters are harsh. Only hardy larger than those in the United States. 152 THE YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 1964 Full utilization of forage was difficult. but a billion pounds below the record Clipping or other mechanical or chem- 6.4 billion pounds produced in 1958. ical control of weeds was seldom Beef accounted for 88 percent of the practiced. Weeds in pastures reduced total meat production in 1962, lamb the stand of grass and lowered the and mutton for 7 percent, and pork livestock carrying capacity. for 5 percent. The Pampa has a great potential About 85 percent of Argentina's for pasture improvement. Progressive meat exports were beef. Mutton and ranchers have been using airplanes for lamb made up most of the remainder. seeding improved grasses and applying About three-fourths of the beef was herbicides. Many producers replaced exported chilled or frozen, and most of old fences and further subdivided pas- the rest as canned beef. The United tures. Forage yields on grazing areas in Kingdom bought about half of the the Pampa that have been carefully chilled and frozen beef. The Common and scientifically managed have been Market countries received most of the amgng the highest on record. remainder. The United Kingdom was The Argentine cattle and beef indus- also the major market for lamb and try has been based on the productive variety meat exports. The United pastures of the Pampa. Steers and heif- States and. the United Kingdom to- ers were put on special fattening pas- gether received about three-fourths of tures soon after weaning and kept the canned beef. there for about 12 months until ready for market. Alfalfa pastures have been NEW ZEALAND was a close second to the foundation of this system, although Argentina as an exporter of meat and many animals were pastured on rye in some recent years shipped a larger or other small grains during the win- quantity than that country. Meat and ter. Fattening in feedlots, common other livestock products earned more in the United States, has not been than 90 percent of New Zealand's practiced. foreign exchange in 1963. Although calf and lamb crops on Meat production, which had been some ranches were comparable to those increasing steadily, was estimated at in the United States, the average for an alltime high of about 1.7 billion the country probably did not exceed pounds for 1963, compared to a 1951- 60 percent. Disease also took a severe 1955 average of 1.3 billion pounds. toll of newborn calves. About 38 percent qf the meat produc- Disease and deficient nutrition were tion consisted of lamb, 33 percent of the two primary factors in this low beef and veal, 23 percent of mutton, level of production. Both factors have and 6 percent of pork. been recognized by progressive Ar- New Zealand has 50 million sheep gentine breeders as serious problems, and has specialized in the production and considerable research has been of fat lambs for export. About 95 per- conducted. cent of the lamb production was Argentina has been the world's larg- shipped abroad—more than 90 percent est exporter of meat during most years to the United Kingdom. More than 60 since 1950. Approximately one-fourth percent of the total meat production of Argentina's meat production has was exported—about three-fourths to been exported. Exports of livestock and the United Kingdom. Less than 40 meat products accounted for more percent was required for domestic use, than half of the value of all exports in although per capita consumption aver- 1962. aged among the highest in the world. Argentine meat production totaled New Zealand was the second largest 5.4 billion pounds in 1962, slightly supplier of boneless, manufacturing- higher than the previous year, and 20 type beef to the United States, furnish- percent above the 1951-1955 average, ing about one-fourth of total imports MEAT PRODUCTION AND TRADE 153 in 1963. About 60 percent of New About 85 percent of the beef cattle Zealand's total beef and veal ship- were in the North Island. The number ments were to the United States. of farms keeping cattle in conjunction The United States bought only with sheep has increased since 1953. limited quantities of New Zealand Some cattle have been kept in areas mutton because it generally had more where land was being cleared. Close fat than was wanted. grazing by cattle was one means of New Zealand has sold large quanti- clearing bracken from new land. ties of mutton to Japan and other Nearly all of New Zealand is well Asian countries since i960, but the adapted to beef cattle. More cattle United Kingdom was still the market would be produced if this operation for more than one-half the exports. were more profitable in comparison Sheep numbers and production of with dairying and sheep production. lambs have increased steadily, but Beef cattle require more preserved there is a considerable potential for winter feed than sheep. The provision further expansion. Beef cattle usually of suitable watering places in the are run with sheep. Their numbers, in pastures is also a problem. 1963 at an alltime peak, have in- New Zealand's considerable po- creased gradually, a trend that should tential for increased production is continue as long as there is a good ex- largely in improvements on existing port market for boneless beef in the farms, such as the additional use of United States. fertilizers, clearing of brush, and better The production of sheep, lambs, and husbandry. It will also be influenced wool has been New Zealand's chief by development of new land through industry, and the economy of New clearing and irrigation. Zealand has centered around it. About 40 million acres of New Zea- SHEEP NUMBERS in Australia increased land's total area of 66 million were by 37 percent and cattle numbers by used for pasture in 1963, most of it 23 percent between 1950 and 1964. for sheep. A further increase is likely, particu- Sheep were widely distributed over larly if meat and wool prices continue both the North and South Islands, but relatively high. some of the high country in the South Australia has had a larger sheep Island, covered with sparse native population than any other country. grasses and tussok, carried only one Sheep numbers for 1963 were esti- sheep to 10 acres. In extensive areas mated at 160 million head—nearly of the country, improved pastures five times the United States total. It carried six ewes or more to the acre. had 19 million head of cattle, com- More than 90 percent of the lambs pared with 104 million in the United exported in 1963 had been sired by States. Southdown rams crossed with ewes of Australian meat production reached the Romney breed. The type of sheep an alltime high of 3.4 billion pounds produced and production practices in in 1962, of which beef and veal ac- New Zealand are uniform, although counted for 53 percent, mutton for 26 the country spans more than a thou- percent, lamb for 14 percent, and pork sand miles. The fat lamb industry was for 7 percent of the total. based on marketing a milkfed lamb, Australia has exported approxi- averaging 30-35 pounds, carcass mately one-fourth of its meat. At one weight, at 4 to 8 months. time nearly all of this went to the The lambing percentage for the United Kingdom, but the proportion country was relatively high. It had not has gradually declined since the been below 94.3 since 1953, and during Second World War, and by 1962 the the spring of 1958 (September-Decem- United Kingdom accounted for only ber) was more than 100 percent. 20 percent of the total meat trade. 154 THE YEARBOOK OF AGRICULTURE 1964 Shipments to the United States maintaining the same number of reached the highest level in 1962 and sheep. A considerable number of dairy were more than double the year farmers were disposing of milk cows before. Boneless, manufacturing-type in 1963 and shifting to beef cattle. beef was the major export and in 1963 Practically all of the cattle have accounted for three-fourths of the been fattened on pastures. There were total meat shipments to the United a few small feedlot operations on an States. Mutton made up most of the experimental basis in 1963, but it was remainder. Beef shipments to the the general opinion that the price of United States reached a record level grain relative to the price of cattle of 445 million pounds, product weight, was too high to make grain feeding in 1962. economical. Furthermore, there was The United States has offered a more no market in Australia for highly attractive market for Australian beef finished beef. than the United Kingdom. Canner In the southeastern parts of the and cutter cows, which supply the country and in the parts of western manufacturing beef sold to the United Australia where rainfall is adequate, States, have been bringing about the a rapid and extensive development of same price per pound as the better improved pastures has occurred. The grades of steers slaughtered for the area in improved pastures in 1963 was United Kingdom. more than three times that devoted to Although conditions vary widely crops. To a limited extent, utilization from one part of Australia to another, of dry native grasses was increased by livestock properties generally have spraying with molasses and the feed- been large. In the more developed ing of urea. southeastern part of Australia, they Cyclical droughts and irregular rain- ranged up to 5 thousand acres. Hold- fall have limited the number of live- ings of fewer than 700 acres in many stock that could be raised in most parts sections are regarded as too small of Australia. The long dry season north for successful operation. In central of the Tropic of Cancer has been a Queensland, holdings of 20 thousand limiting factor, for the stocking rate acres are common. In northern and was determined by the number of head western Queensland, properties often which can be carried through the dry exceed 250 thousand acres. period. In Northern Territory and in the Rabbits, once a serious pest, have Kimberley region of western Australia, been reduced greatly in numbers, a number of cattle stations had 5 but in some regions measures to cur- thousand square miles, or more than tail rabbits have been costly. 3 million acres. The carrying capacity Sheep were not raised in the coastal of this area has been as low as six head and northern part of Queensland, to the square mile because of a long Northern Territory, and the Kimber- dry season. Attempts to operate units ley region of western Australia because of less than i thousand square miles of the prevalence of spear grass, frequently have been unsuccessful. whose sharp points penetrate the skin Many of the properties were held by of sheep, and the sheep-killing dingos large corporations. (wild dogs). In New South Wales and Victoria, Although production of meat in the common practice has been to run Australia expanded about 50 percent cattle and sheep together on the same in 1954-1963, there remained a large pastures. As the carrying capacity was potential for similar or even greater increased through the use of fertilizers expansion in the future. Production and seeding with clover and improved could be further increased by enlarg- grasses, the prevalent practice was to ing grazing areas, clearing brushland, increase the number of cattle while and constructing roads, which would MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS 155 permit cattle raised in remote areas to be transported to market. Although livestock were raised throughout the United Kingdom, not enough meat has been produced for the country's requirements. Thus in 1963 about 30 percent of the beef, 60 Milk and percent of the mutton and lamb, and 33 percent of the pork requirements were supplied by imports, even though meat production had increased by 40 Dairy Products percent over the 1951-1955 average. Meat imports in 1962 totaled 2.7 billion pounds, product weight, 35 by DAVID R. STROBEL and percent above the 1951-1955 average. SAMUEL L. CROCKETT Beef made up 30 percent of the im- ports, pork 38 percent, and lamb and mutton 32 percent. Relatively few countries supplied the bulk of the imports. Argentina MILK HAS COME to the modem world furnished 55 percent of the beef, from the cradle of civilization as a Denmark 69 percent of the pork, and basic element of nutrition. New Zealand 83 percent of the lamb Milk was regarded as Nature's most and mutton in 1962. nearly perfect food long before we had the modern science of nutrition. ALTHOUGH Common Market coun- Scientific analysis has made known the tries were 95 percent self-sufficient in nutritional elements that make milk meat production in 1963, they were and its products effective components the third most important importer of of the human diet. meat. Most of the imports consisted of Most of the milk for human food beef, of which Argentina supplied comes from domestic cattle. Cows pro- about two-thirds, and variety meats, duce 90 to 95 percent of the total sup- of which the United States supplied ply, and goats, sheep, deer, buffalo, more than one-half. camels, donkeys, mares, and yaks the The combined meat production of remainder. The world milk production the six countries—West Germany, therefore usually means cow's milk. France, Italy, the Netherlands, Bel- That does not mean that milk from gium, and Luxembourg—totaled about animals other than cows is not impor- 18 billion pounds in 1963, exceeding tant. Much of it is produced in areas that of any country except America. where cow's milk is not available. In the Community as a whole, the Milk cows thrive and produce best in trend of production kept pace with the Temperate Zones and may survive that of consumption, so that the de- only with difficulty in some climates gree of self-sufficiency over the decade where other milk-producing animals ending with 1963 changed little. are quite at home.

DwiGHT R. BISHOP joined the Live- THE CHIEF producing regions are stock Division of Foreign Agricultural Europe, North America, and Oceania. Service in ig^g. He has traveled exten- The major producers in Europe are sively through most of the major livestock France, West Germany, the United producing countries and has prepared a Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Den- number of publications about them. Previ- mark, and the Soviet Union. In North ously he was stationed in Brazil, Cuba, and America, the United States and Can- the Congo as agricultural attaché. ada have about 95 percent of the total