MEAT PRODUCTION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6444, 10 November 1947, Page 8

MEAT PRODUCTION

ARGENTINA OUTPUT FARMING ON HUGE SCALE Some interesting information concerning moat production in the Argentine was given by Mr H. 0. Lloyd (president), speaking at the monthly meeting of Tauranga branch of Federated Farmers, (Auckland Province). While Britain had undertaken to absorb the whole of New Zealand’s meat production up to 1951, he said, the Argentine meat production was expected to be mainly diverted to the United States. This was unlikely to be more than a temporary trend however, as British capital was heavily involved in the Argentine beef trade. Unlike those in New Zealand, farms in the Argentine occupied ordinarily areas of something like 120 square miles. In one instance a railway line went for 180 miles within one farm, the level land on either side, lush with lucerne, being comprised in it as far as the eye could see. This farm contracted to supply the freezing works with 3000 head of cattle per week, /which would give an idea of the vast herds that were kept. One circumstance, he said, and one which tended to increase the dependence of the Argentine on Britain was that Argentine soil was not conducive to bone formation and the frequent importation of bulls was necessary to counteract this defect. The Argentine purchased no less than 6000 bulls from the United Kingdom every year for this purpose. Owing to the very fine bone formation,. which resulted in a high proportion of meat to bone. Argentine meat was considered to be the best on the Smithfield market.