ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY.

Chief.-D. E. Salmon, D. V. M.

Assistant chief.-A. D. Melvin, D. V. S.

Chief clerk.-S. R. Burch.

Dairy division.—Henry E. Alvord, C. E., chief; R. A. Pearson, M. S., assistant chief.

Inspection division.-A. M. Farrington, B. S., B. V. S., chief: E. J. Jones, assistant chief.

Miscellaneous division.—Richard W. Hickman, Ph. G., V. M. D., chief.
Editorial clerk.-George Fayette Thompson.

Artist.-W. S. D. Haines.

Erpert in animal husbandry.-George M. Rommel, B. S. A.

Librarian.-Beatrice C. Oberly.

LABORATORIES.

Biochemic division.-E. A. de Schweinitz, Ph. D., M. D., chief; Marion Dorset. M. D., assistant chief.

Expert in dairy chemistry.-George E. Patrick, M. S.

Pathological division.-Ch. Wardell Stiles, M. S., Ph. D., A. M.. chief.

Zoological division.-John R. Mohler, V. M. D., zoologist: Albert Hassall, M. R. C. V. S., acting assistant zoologist.

EXPERIMENT STATION.

Superintendent.-E. C. Schroeder, M. D. V.; expert assistant, W. E. Cotton.

MEXICO AS A MARKET FOR PUREBRED BEEF

CATTLE.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.

The purpose of publishing the information contained in this bulletin is to assist those who raise purebred cattle to find a market for their surplus animals. A careful perusal of the letters from the United States consular officers in Mexico shows very clearly that there is a great demand in Mexico for bulls of our beef breeds for improving the size and quality of the small Mexican cattle. There are already many of them being used for this purpose in that country. The letters also point out some of the principal drawbacks which exporters of cattle to that country encounter, but at the same time the opportunities afforded are fully set forth.

The largest cattle ranches of Mexico are in the northern Statesthose bordering the United States, such as Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila but cattle raising is an industry of no mean proportions in many other of the States of the Republic. These ranches are there called haciendas, and many of them contain many hundreds of square miles. It is not uncommon to find upon them as many as 20,000 head of cattle. It is stated upon good authority that one wealthy Mexican brands from 30,000 to 40,000 calves annually on his haciendas.

The following information concerning the cattle industry of Mexico is taken from Bulletin No. 9 of the Bureau of American Republics, issued July, 1891:

One of the most important of Mexico's industries is cattle raising. The States of the northern frontier are so well adapted to such purposes that they may be said to be immense cattle ranges. The excellent situation of the lands as well as their generally well-watered condition will, as has been said by persons who have given study to the matter, make Mexico a formidable rival of the Argentine Republic. Lately, Texan and English capitalists have made extensive purchases of lands and live stock in the northern States, and are devoting themselves to the lucrative business of raising cattle for the market. But it is not only in the temperate and cold lands of the northern States that this industry may be carried on. In the warmer latitudes, where the herbaceous vegetation is exuberant and water courses abundant, it offers equal opportunity for success.

The fattening of beeves on ranges well-conditioned for grazing, or which lend themselves to grass growing and are well watered, give excellent results.

The States of Durango, Sonora, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Vera Cruz, and Michoacan present admirable fields for the carrying on of this

great industry. The rich pasture lands of the latter State feed the thousands of cattle slaughtered for the sustenance of the residents of the capital of the Mexican Republic, which is by no means an inconsiderable number, for during the year 1888 there were 83,228 beeves and 130,263 sheep slaughtered in the abattoirs of the city of Mexico. Some of the States above named are not well provided with water, but it has been demonstrated that with small expense all the necessary water can be provided by the boring of wells. In the State of Guanajuato a company, under the patronage of the State government, has bored wells and begun the breeding and fattening of cattle on a large scale. This company has imported into the country a considerable number of specimens of the best breeds of horned cattle from the United States and elsewhere, and judging from appearances its efforts are meeting with gratifying success.

Mexico raises great numbers of cattle for the United States, and does so under better conditions of climate than the latter country, for the stock raisers of this country lose thousands every year owing to the rigorous winter and severe summers, while in Mexico perennial spring smiles on man and beast.

Statistics show that in 1883, in the northern States of Mexico alone, over an area of 300,000 square miles there roamed 1,500,000 horned cattle, 2,500,000 goats, 1,000,000 sheep, 1,000,000 horses, and 500,000 mules. During the same year there were 20,574 cattle ranches in the country, valued at $515,000,000, which number and value have increased considerably in the last seven years.

MEXICANS SEEKING A MARKET.

Previous to the passage of our tariff act of July 24, 1897, a large part of the surplus cattle from the haciendas of these bordering States found a market in the United States whence they were taken for pasturage in dry seasons and for feeding. The number thus brought over the border was sometimes as great as 400,000 annually. The tariff then was 20 per cent ad valorem, but since 1897 it has been $3.75 per head for animals valued at $14 or less, and the annual importations have fallen to about 100,000.

Thus was created a situation which alarmed the Mexican cattle raisers, who found their surplus of several hundred thousand cattle thrown back upon them, and they were under the necessity of finding other markets. In seeking such markets they have discovered that, in order to meet competition, they must produce an animal that is worth shipping, and one that will sell when it is shipped. In other words, they must be able to ship animals which are much larger than the native stock, and which carry a large percentage of the blood of the well-known beef breeds. The Mexicans are now looking to England as an outlet for their cattle, and their purpose in importing our purebred bulls is to build up their native herds so that the product will sell well abroad.

OUR EXPORTS TO MEXICO.

Our exports of cattle to Mexico, which are probably all breeding animals, have been increasing recently. A table is compiled, which shows the number and value, as well as the average price per head of the cattle exported to Mexico during the years 1893 to 1900, inclusive. These figures are taken from the monthly reports of the Bureau

of Statistics of the Treasury Department. For use in making comparisons and for general interest the number and value of the sheep, hogs, and horses exported to Mexico are also given. The table follows:

Number and value of cattle, sheep, hogs, and horses exported to Mexico, 1893 to 1900, inclusive.

It is stated above that probably all of these cattle which go from the United States into Mexico are breeding stock. The average price being so low lends color to the oft-repeated charge that most of the cattle which have so far found a market in Mexico have been of very inferior stock. It can hardly be doubted, after reading the statements of our consular officers, that the Mexicans have been grossly deceived by dealers in American cattle. It is pleasant to be informed by Consul-General Barlow, at Mexico, that "of cattle purchased from Americans in the United States there has not been, to my knowledge, a single complaint." This is what Mr. Barlow says concerning the imposition referred to above:

It must be admitted that at present Swiss cattle are rather more in favor among the native stock raisers than American cattle, not from any lack of merit of really purebred cattle, but because certain unscrupulous dealers have imposed inferior cattle upon native cattle raisers and breeders under the representation that they were purebred American cattle. The deception is, of course, found out sooner or later and reflects in no small degree upon American cattle, or, rather, upon American cattle dealers in general. Of cattle purchased from Americans in the United States, there has not been, to my knowledge, a single complaint. Such cattle have always proved entirely satisfactory.

Various methods to prevent the shipment to Mexico of cattle not registered have been suggested. One consul calls attention to the practice of the Swiss Government of inspecting all cattle exported from that country and issuing certificates of the pedigreed animals. He says the result is that no spurious Swiss cattle have entered Mexico. While this method might be impracticable for the United States Government, it might be practicable for the breeders themselves to organize for the purpose of giving a guaranty with the animals they sell. Such an organization should be so thoroughly representative as to command the respect of the cattle raisers of Mexico.

EXORBITANT PRICES ARE DETRIMENTAL.

There is a general complaint coming up from Mexico that the prices of our cattle are too high. On this point Hon. Leandro Fernandez, Secretary of Fomento (agriculture), says:

I believe that to promote the importation into this country of fine-blooded cattle from the United States it will be necessary for the cattle raisers of the United States to reduce their prices, for the real obstruction to the importation of American cattle is to be found in the high-I might say almost prohibitive—prices.

The average prices which have been received for our cattle for several years in Mexico do not indicate that too much was asked for good purebred animals. However, the prices asked may have been altogether too high for the kind of cattle offered, since we are informed that so many inferior animals have been imposed upon the Mexicans as purebred. The fair prices asked by the honest breeders of the United States would probably not appear exorbitant to the Mexicans if they knew how greatly superior such animals are to those which have been sold down there as purebreds. The Mexicans will not forget that the object they have in view in improving their herds is to produce a class of animals which will sell in England, and it ought not to be difficult to convince them that the best means to attain this end is by the employment of the very best breeding animals to be had. It was by such methods that the United States reached its present high position with reference to purebred cattle; and Mexico, too, will learn that there is no other method which will lead to prefer

ment.

The breeders of purebred cattle in the United States are not producing a surplus so large that it becomes necessary to sell them at greatly reduced prices. They have a fairly good market at home. The possibilities of increasing the number of breeding animals in this country are great, and the breeders are ready to take up the work whenever they can see that it is likely to prove profitable.

It is quite evident, however, if we may judge by the experiences of men in providing markets for other products, that concessions must be made; that those who have cattle to sell must do something toward creating a market. It would be a far-seeing policy for our breeders to do their utmost to create, not only in Mexico, but in the South American countries also, a market for those classes of breeding animals which we can best produce. When once such a market is created our breeders could bend their energies toward increased production in order to supply the demand which they have created. Therefore it has been suggested that it may be the best plan for our breeders to reduce the prices of animals for export to Mexico until such time as the Mexicans may become convinced that the cattle sent them are all that is claimed for them and that such cattle are indispensable to the success of the object which they have in view.