THE WORLD'S LIVE STOCK.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 92, 24 July 1908, Page 3

THE WORLD'S LIVE STOCK.

One of the facts brou.sh. i int.;; prominence by dnc Victorian Government statist in his last " Year-book'•" was that the number of sheep hi the principal rearing countries of the world decreased to the extent of 26,000,000 between 1887 and 1903. Inquiries now begun are expected to show a similar shrinkage in herds of cattle. Population'■ increased in the period under notice by 71,000,000. If the figures'for beef are on a parity with those for mutton, it will be evident that an enormous change has taken place in the relation of supply to demand. r - Attention was directed to this change and apparent shortage;by a cable message published recently, announcing that a cargo of meat.received in England from America had been re'shipped to the United States, where the demand exceeded the supply. As the beef trust of the States handles a good deal of the trade at Smithfield (London), and has for some years endeavoured to control rates, this one fact would not be in itself proof of anything beyond rather an unusual balancing of markets. But there is a good deal of other evidence. Mulhall, in his " Dictionary of Statistics," shows that the United Kingdom produced 50,000 tons'less mutton in 1895 than in 1875. • "While it imported 175,000 tons only, 125,000 tons more were consumed, though its number of inhabitants nearly doubled. Then, in. the United States, the production of mutton had steadily declined from 480,000 tons in 1886, to 380,000 tons in 1896. In short, the expectation of the political economists, that men must push live stock off the land as civilisation advances, and that an increase in population must be accompanied by a decrease in herds, is being rapidly realised in Europe and in the United States. Already in France the three acres, which in a sparsely-peopled country would be allocated to the support of one or two cows or sheep are, under intense culture, made to yield comfortable livings for as many families. And the significant sequel is that the consumption of, meat has been reduced. Dr Brown, inspector of food for export in Victoria.* declares that 20 per cent. of*the poor in France and 30 per cent, in Germany rarely see or taste fresh or frozen meat. If Australia could be permitted to cater for this huge market it would find an almost boundless demand in his opinion, for the world is not becoming vegetarian ; it eats less and less meat because the herds tend to disappear. Australasia has areas and to spare for probably a century, to supply the balk of the requirements of the Old World, and when breeders and shippers secure this trade the Commonwealth may expect a "permanent boom." In spite of the growing wealthy and the raising of the standard of living in Great Britain, the importation of live food has decreased, and the landing of dead meat has not by any means made up for,the deficiency. In 1897 there were received in the United Kingdom 611,594 sheep and lambs; in IQO6, 103,359; in the former year oxen and bulls, cows and calves totalled 618,321; in the latter year, 561, 215. On the dead side, bacon, ham, beef (fresh, salted and preserved), mutton (fresh and preserved), pork, rabbits, etc., were entered to the extent of 15,000,000cwt. in 1897, and ig,2so,ooocwt. in 1906. The increase in carcases scarcely met the growth in population, while the decrease in live stock was net. Now, as the time is approaching when America will barely be able to supply its own needs, and when the artisans of the Continent, with better wages, will desire better food—and especially a more liberal meat diet — it is evident that the countries with a surplusage and willing to cater for Europe, should reap a rich harvest. At the present time heavy duties prevent imports in almost every country in Europe, but the demand of thepeople for cheap food should ultimately lead to the? reduction or repeal of these imposts. The Mother Country offers an excellent, and what is most, important, an absolutely free market.—"The Australasian."