Beef Production Per Year in Cuba

Notes1

Cuba'southward livestock manufacture has undergone dramatic alter from the fourth dimension when Fidel Castro took control of the country's regime in 1959. At the time of the revolution, cattle was the most important component of the livestock and poultry manufacture. Today, the cattle population in Republic of cuba is less than at the time of the revolution. Beef and veal rank backside poultry and pork as the major source of meat in the Cuban diet. Ration stores no longer stock beef and it is illegal to serve beef at the minor in-abode restaurants known as paladares, unless the owner has paid a special taxation.

What brought about this change, and what are the implications for potential U.S. exporters of livestock genetics if U.South. trade sanctions are lifted? This paper attempts to provide information bearing on this question. Livestock genetics, as used in this paper, refers to live animals for convenance purposes, semen, and embryos.

LIVESTOCK SITUATION

Cuba, with a land surface area approximately equal to threefourths the size of Florida, is located in the tropics immediately south of the Tropic of Cancer. Climates in tropical countries accept been considered by animal scientists every bit among the primary factors in the low level of returns from livestock enterprises. Other factors, such equally lack of genetic improvement of convenance stock, inadequate research, and limitations of technology, accept also been identified as important causes for poor performance in tropical climates.2

Cuban livestock production identifies with all of these factors, merely Cuba likewise offers advantages over many other tropical and sub-tropical areas for production of livestock, peculiarly cattle. In the eastern provinces, Republic of cuba has a favorable climate with relatively consequent temperatures. The soil is fertile and offers prospects for improved pasture grasses. Being an isle, Republic of cuba provides opportunity for amend control of animal diseases than countries bordering on other countries.

In addition to conditions affecting the tropics, Cuban livestock production during the by decade has been affected by economic issues. Since the loss of trade preferences with the Soviet Marriage and East European countries, an inadequate supply of fauna feed has been become a major factor in limiting efficiency and yield of livestock production.

Another factor, especially in the early on years post-obit the revolution, was direction. Slaughtering convenance stock to increment the supply of beef became an of import long-run factor hindering genetic comeback of cattle.3 In contempo years, theft and illegal slaughter of cattle accept affected the cattle industry adversely.

Cattle

Castilian cattle brought to Cuba in its early history became the basis for the land'southward cattle population. During the assistants of Cuba by the United States (1899-1902), more cattle were imported from United mexican states, Venezuela, Central America, and the southern United States. The tendency in importing cattle continued during the following years, more often than not bulls from Latin America and the The states. Zebu cattle from Republic of india imported via U.Due south. southern states played a major role in improvement of the quality of Cuban cattle.4 In the belatedly 1920s, imports of zebu (Brahma), Shorthorn, Jersey, Hereford, Angus, Charolais, Chocolate-brown Swiss and Holstein breeds increased.

In the late 1940s, the Santa Gertrudis breed was imported from Texas. At the time of the revolution, the Brahma, Brown Swiss and Santa Gertrudis were the most popular breeds.five

In 1962 the government began an intensive crossbreeding program. The objective was to increase production capacity through use of the Holstein breed.half dozen Two of the most pop breeds adult through the cantankerous-breeding programme were given names of historical significance. The Mambi breed, a cross between the zebu and Holstein breeds, was named for the fighters against the 18 century Colonists. The Siboney breed, also a zebu-Holstein cross, was named for the inhabitants of Cuba at the time the Castilian arrived in the 15th century.7 Artificial insemination was the ground of the cantankerous-breeding program. Some 3,000 center level technicians were employed in thirteen insemination centers, where semen was candy. Frozen semen in tablets, preserved in liquid nitrogen, was the technology used.8

In 1968 the cattle population reached 6.nine million head, but in the following years the number of cattle started to refuse. By 1989, the number of cattle had fallen to 5.7 meg. Currently, the number of cattle is estimated at iv.65 million, almost a one-half-million less than at the time of the revolution, over ii one thousand thousand less than xxx years ago and a one thousand thousand less than 10 years agone.9

Five provinces, by and large, have been the largest cattle production areas, with more than half of the land's cattle. Camagüey, the second largest sugarcane producing province, has been the largest producer of cattle with most i-fifth of the country's total. Granma is next with 10%. Other provinces with nearly ten% each, include La Habana, Villa Clara and Pinar del Rio.10

Buying of cattle is divided between the state sector and the non-state sector. The non-country sector includes the Basic Units of Cooperative Production (UBPC), the Agricultural output Cooperatives (CPA), the Cooperatives of Credit and Services (CCS), and the minor private farmers that have established "compromisos" with the Government of Cuba (GOC). Within the state sector, 97% of the cattle population is overseen by the Ministry of Agronomics. The balance is administered by the Ministry of Sugar and provincial organizations.11

In 1961 the state-sector owned 24% of the country's v one thousand thousand head. By 1965, country ownership had increased to 57% of the nearly seven million cattle, and by 1989 the land sector managed 75% of the cattle. State farms provided well-nigh of the meat, milk and other foods for domestic consumption. Amidst the nonstate entities, CPAs owned the largest number of cattle.

With the transformation of many of the land farms into UBPCs beginning in 1993, the bulk of ownership of cattle shifted from the land sector to the non-state sector. By 1996 the importance of country farms had decreased; however, according to official data, 95% of the beef that year was produced in the public sector.12 (Information is non available to the author to explain the high percentage; however, it could upshot from public ownership of the slaughtering facilities, and information could include animals produced in the non-state sector but slaughtered in land-controlled facilities.)

Official records do betoken a major shift of animal ownership from state farms to the non-land sector. In 1993, when the UBPCs were formed, 64% of the 818,600 calves born that year were in the country sector.

In 1996 only 27% of the 782,000 calves born were recorded in the state sector. In 1996 the average weight of cattle slaughtered for meat was 302 kilos (665 lbs), an increase of 56 kilos (123 lbs) from 1993 and 75 kilos (165 lbs) from 1992. This could reflect the decreased availability of foreign exchange at the end of the 1980s to import feed following loss of Soviet Bloc merchandise preferences, and the increased availability of inputs equally a result of the improved economy beginning in the mid 1990s. Information technology is also interesting to note that eighty% of the calf mortality in 1993 was in the country sector, just only 31% in 1996.xiii

Swine

Pork, traditionally, has been a favored meat in Republic of cuba and Country planning has focused on increasing production. The number of pigs increased from ane.1 million in 1961 to 1.eight 1000000 in 1966 so leveled off at about 1.5 million through 1981. In 1982 the number of pigs began to rise, reaching 2.eight one thousand thousand in 1991. Since then, the number of pigs has declined to almost ii.4 million.14

As has been the state of affairs with beef cattle, the boilerplate weight of hogs slaughtered increased during the last half of the past decade. In 1992 the average weight of hogs slaughtered was 50 kilos (110 lbs). It had dropped from 75 kilos (165 lbs) in 1990, a reduction of one-third. In 1993 the average weight began to increase and was 70 kilos (154 lbs) in 1996. Since then the average carcass weight has increased, merely is still not at the level of the 1980s.

Consumer preference plays a role in Cuba in the weight of pigs when they are consumed. While the authorities effort is to increase the boilerplate weight in order to increment the meat supply, the consumer traditionally has preferred to roast pigs at a weight of under 100 pounds, preferably threescore to 70 pounds. This cistron, withal, probably is non reflected in the official weight data of hogs slaughtered.

Live pig births in 1996 was placed at around two meg, with the mortality charge per unit at 17%. This was a significant decrease in the mortality rate from 1993, when it was reported to be 29%. Mortality of swine was higher, 38%, in the country sector than the total average in 1993, but lower in 1996 at 15%. The overall decreased mortality charge per unit indicates improved swine management, especially in the state sector. Some other factor affecting the decreased bloodshed rate in the state sector relative to the not-state sector could exist retention of the better managed operations in the state sector and the conversion of less efficient land farms to UBPCs. (Only 13 of 46 UBPCs, reportedly, showed profit in 1999.)

Swine bloodshed is well-nigh of import from birth to weaning. Sows laying on their pigs in the early weeks afterwards birth is an especially important factor in swine mortality. Good management, therefore, is critical. The second most important cistron is hygiene, e.one thousand. preventing diarrhea. Nutrition, genetics and, obviously, wiping out brucellosis—a serious disease that has affected swine since the pre-revolutionary days— are other of import factors.fifteen

Sheep

The Government of Cuba in the early years of the revolution had plans to increase sheep numbers to more than two million head in an endeavor to increase the meat supply and provide raw cloth for use in the material industry. The number of sheep increased steadily during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, merely began a refuse in the 1990s. The number of sheep in 1961 was 220,000; in 1971 the number was 290,000; in 1981 it was 361,000; and by 1991 it was 385,000. From the pinnacle in 1989-91, the number of sheep has declined to 310,000 and has remained at about that level.16

Official Cuban data showed the number of sheep in 1996 at 899,851, near three times that of the FAO data, and the number of goats at 118, 541. Any the correct number might be, it is axiomatic the plan to increment sheep numbers to two 1000000 has not materialized. Approximately 1-fourth of the sheep and about 10% of the goats are held in the state sector.

Horses

Horse numbers, including donkeys and mules, are estimated to accept leveled off at a fiddling more than 600,000 (620,000 in 1999), about 200,000 more than than at the time of the revolution. Land farms accounted for 17% in 1996. Ane of the main reasons horse numbers have increased since the revolution, is that beast ability has been used to a big extent to supplement, or replace, mechanical power.

In addition to horses, oxen accept been used to substitute for tractors. Oxen, for example, have been used widely for working in the fields, to transport sugarcane, and for other purposes . In 1992 the Cuban authorities acknowledged that the country was using in backlog of 100,000 oxen. Even at nowadays, when traveling through the countryside it is credible that oxen are used widely in the fields. Horses appear to be used mainly for transport purposes.

Live Animal Trade

In 1961 Cuba imported live animals valued at $iv.9 million. The post-obit year imports dropped to $ane.5 1000000 and remained under $one meg annually until 1990. Alive animal imports that year were valued at $3.5 million. Since 1990, imports of live animals have remained insignificant. Cuba's exports of live animals, also, have remained relatively insignificant.17

MEAT AND MILK Production

Prior to the loss of Soviet help in 1989-ninety, meat production—in terms of total production and on a per capita basis—was higher than during the years post-obit the revolution. With the loss of merchandise preferences and the lack of foreign exchange to import feed, total meat production in recent years has fallen to less than in the 1960s. On a per capita basis, meat product has dropped dramatically.

Beef, Pork and Poultry Meat Production

Total meat product (beef, pork, poultry and other) averaged xxx metric tons per ane,000 population in the 1987-91 period. Using the same measure, production for the 1992-96 menstruum averaged less than 18 tons—a reduction of more than than 40%.

Total meat production per person in 1987-91 was about 5% college than the average for 1961-66, but past the 1997-98 period, production had fallen to twothirds of the early 1960s. Product of beefiness and veal recorded the largest driblet of the three major meats. Total beef and veal production fell from the 1961-63 average of 146,000 metric tons to 71,300 tons for the 1997-98 period, a subtract of more than one-half. During the last one-half of the 1990s, production of beef and veal per capita was slightly alee of product in the get-go half of the decade. The even larger decline in production in the commencement half of the 1990s reflects the severity of the loss of Soviet and Eastern Bloc merchandise preferences.

Pork production, contrary to beef and veal production, has increased in terms of both full production and per capita production compared to the early on years of the revolution. Production per person in 1997-98 was 63% higher than the average for 1961- 66, only was 22% below 1987-91.

Poultry meat production increased even more pork production in the 30 years following the revolution, withal, production following the loss of trade preferences brutal more than pork. Lower production of poultry meat reflected even more than than pork production, the loss of foreign exchange to import feed. Even today, many poultry production units remain idle because of the lack of feed.

Milk Production

Distance within the tropics has a significant effect on milk product. The boilerplate milk yields and rates of growth of cattle in the lower elevations (less than 400 meters) of countries lying in the North-South 30 degree latitudes—generally considered as the area of tropical climate—are but 10-15 percentage of that adequate in the North 35-lx degree latitudes.eighteen

In improver to the vagaries of the tropics, investments in livestock in Cuba in the years earlier the revolution were non as meaning in milk product every bit in beef product. Although there were some entrepreneurs investing in the dairy industry in pre-revolutionary Cuba, cattle breeding generally focused on product of meat.

Following the revolution, especially the period 1962- 70, the Cuban government initiated a concerted effort to increase milk production through the crossbreeding program. Nigh 900,000 cows were inseminated annually to produce college-yielding offspring. 19

In 1961, Republic of cuba's production of whole fresh milk was reported to exist 350,000 metric tons. Production increased gradually reaching ane million metric tons in 1979, and remained at approximately that level until 1991. During the 1990s, largely equally a outcome of lack of beast feed, production declined to the present level of about 650,000 metric tons.20

Milk production per moo-cow had increased dramatically from 1960 through 1980. The steady increase was attributed to the success of breeding programs to cantankerous Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds with the criollo (mainly local zebu) cattle. By 1980 about seventy% of the Cuban dairy herd was made up of these crosses, more than iii-quarters were Holstein-criollo crosses.

In spite of the productivity gains in the late 1960s and 1970s, Cuba supplied just most xxx% of its domestic need for milk. Powdered milk was imported to meet the remaining need. In years prior to the revolution, milk was supplied mainly in the form of sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk.

Refrigeration facilities for preserving fresh milk play an important role in milk product, especially in the torrid zone, and undoubtedly limited refrigeration capacity has had negative impact on efforts to increment dairying in Cuba. In addition, particularly in the by decade, the lack of creature feed has had a particularly negative consequence on milk production. Annual production per cow in 1996 averaged one,252 kilograms (2,754 lbs), about 600 kilos (one,348 lbs) below 1990—a subtract in yield of approximately 50%. In 1996 Florida's annual boilerplate milk product per cow was 14,588 pounds, more than 5 times college than in Republic of cuba.

The average number of cows producing milk in 1996 was 511,200, some 40,000 fewer than in 1990. Milk production in 1996 was 640,000 MT and 1,034,000 MT in 1990. Thus, while the number of dairy cows in 1996 had declined less than 10%, the total product of milk had dropped nearly 40%.

State production of milk in 1990 was 80% of the total, and in 1996 it was about xx%. Every bit for beef cattle production, this was primarily the result of transforming state farms into UBPCs. The number of dairy cattle in the state sector in 1996 was only 16% compared to 66% in 1990.

I of the more than widely publicized efforts to increase milk production in Cuba was an ambitious plan supported by the United nations World Food Program (WFP) in the province of Camagüey in 1989. Plans called for 358 new dairies and xi new villages to encourage relocation of labor. It was referred to equally the creation of the largest dairy complex in the world. In 1992 WFP introduced another project in the province of Las Tunas to benefit small farmers and cooperatives. Information is not bachelor on the current status of these projects; however, information practice not bespeak whatsoever impact on increasing domestic milk production.

POTENTIAL Market CONSIDERATIONS

Assume that proposed legislation being considered by the U.S. Congress results in lifting the embargo on food exports, including livestock genetics, to Cuba. What are some of the major factors that will impact the market for U.S. livestock genetics?

Market Structure

Livestock products in Republic of cuba are sold through 4 different markets—Ration Stores, Agronomical Markets, Dollar Stores, and the Black Market. Bolt and their availability have changed from time to time, but over the years take included beefiness, chicken meat, eggs, butter and canned milk. In recent years beef has not been available in the Ration Stores.

Beef, forth with other kinds of meat, is sometimes bachelor in the Dollar Stores. Reportedly, more than than half of Cuba's population has access to U.S. dollars and could apply those dollars to purchase beefiness, as well as pork, poultry and other livestock products in the Dollar Stores.

Pork and poultry meat are sold through the Agricultural Markets. Beefiness is not sold in these markets. More often than not, beef is not offered on the menus of the paladares. Some paladares, however, practice from time to time offer beef to their patrons. Reportedly, by paying a special tax, a paladar tin can provide beefiness on the menu. Paladares could purchase the beef through the Dollar Stores or in the Blackness Marketplace.

Tourist and authorities hotels provide an boosted marketplace for livestock products. Meat and dairy products utilized in the tourist manufacture are largely imported.

Market Demand

Cuba'southward current population of more than11 million is nearly lx% greater than in 1959. The total food supply, therefore, needs to be 60% greater just to maintain the aforementioned level of per capita consumption. Production of some commodities, such as beef, is beneath levels prior to 1959.

Poultry meat in Cuba has surpassed both beefiness and pork as measured by per capita consumption. Poultry meat consumed per capita in 1998 was more than than ten% greater than pork. Per capita beef consumption at 6.4 kilograms per year was almost three-fourths the amount of poultry meat consumed. In the 1960s beef consumption per capita was more than six times that of poultry meat, and more five times that of pork.

Per capita consumption of beef has dropped steadily from the time of the revolution. The 1997-98 average consumption per capita of beefiness was only about thirty% of the corporeality consumed in the 1961-66 period. Pork consumption per capita, on the other mitt, increased more than 80% and poultry consumption per capita during the same time periods more than than doubled.

Although at present more poultry meat is consumed than either beef or pork, consumption of poultry meat is but almost two-thirds the level sustained prior to the loss of Soviet aid in 1990. Imports account for about 30% of the country's poultry meat supply, while imports accept been a modest cistron in the supply of other kinds of meat.

During the past decade adequate diet has been i of the well-nigh serious problems facing Republic of cuba. Of item concern has been the decline in per capita consumption of meat products. Prior to the 1990s, Cubans were consuming xx% or more than of their calories in the form of animal products. During the offset half of 1990s they were consuming only xv% from animal products. Past the end of the 1990s, the calories derived from creature products had fallen to 12%. (Table 3)

Republic of cuba'south caloric consumption from fauna origin, 12%, is slightly above the average level for developing countries—xi%. In developed countries the population obtains an average of 27% of its calories from animal products.21 Calories consumed from animal products in Cuba during 1998 (309) were less than those consumed in Republic of costa rica (472), Jamaica (466), Bolivia (414), or Dominican Republic (345).

Prior to the 1959 revolution, Cuba's food needs were met through domestic production and importation. For 30 years post-obit the revolution, these endeavors were supported by favorable trade terms with the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries. Soviet assist and favorable trade arrangements permitted Cuba to import production inputs needed for domestic agricultural production. Exports, primarily sugar, to the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries provided foreign exchange needed to import food to fill the deficit betwixt production and consumption.

Until the collapse of the trading relationship with the Soviet Union at the finish of the 1980s, the Cuban government was able to provide adequate nutrition for its people. With the loss of Soviet aid Cuba'south nutrient situation has inverse dramatically. Without the favorable trade terms, access to improved engineering, and strange exchange to import, Cuba has not been able to maintain the same level of caloric intake per capita. The country's per capita nutrient supply, measured in terms of caloric consumption, is about 3-fourths of the level held prior to the loss of Soviet assistance.

In an effort to maintain an acceptable level of nutrition, Republic of cuba in the 1990s allocated a larger per centum of foreign exchange for food imports relative to other imports. Foreign exchange, obtained through increased family unit remittances, strange investment and tourism has helped to finance the food imports.

While much of the nutrient marketed through the tourist manufacture is imported, some domestic production does reach the tourist market. Reportedly, the tourism industry purchased approximately The states$120 million worth of fresh produce and meat products from Ministry building of Agronomics-operated companies in 1998, compared to US$75 million in 1997.

In addition to siphoning off some domestic food production for the tourist industry, lower per capita production and lack of strange exchange to import has caused per capita supply of many nutrient items, not but beast poly peptide foods, to be substantially lower than earlier 1959. It could be argued that many of the food items currently available in smaller supplies than before the revolution are not necessary for human nutrition, but they are items that many consumers prefer.

Information technology is obvious that there should be a pent-up need in Cuba for livestock products, peculiarly beef and dairy products. Increased need would be expected to issue from a larger human population, decreased imports of creature products and a smaller per capita domestic supply of meat.

Market Competition

If the market in Cuba would open up for U.South. livestock genetics, it is predictable the U.Due south. livestock manufacture would provide strong competition for suppliers from other countries. Canada has been Cuba's major source of dairy genetics. U.S. dairy and beefiness cattle would compete extremely well with cattle from other land sources alleged pes and mouth disease free. Considering of similar climatic conditions in the southern United States to that of Republic of cuba, livestock coming from the U.S. southern states would have a strong preference to those coming from either Canada, Europe or South American livestock-producing countries, such equally Argentine republic and Uruguay.

Countries and firms already established in the Cuban market through merchandise and investment could exist expected to provide strong competition for U.Due south. exporters. About of the international economic associations formed between Cuba and foreign entities pertaining to food and agriculture accept involved financing rather than investment. Financing is used primarily to provide product inputs, such every bit fertilizers, chemicals, equipment, etc. It affects mainly production and processing of exportable products, e.g. citrus, sugar, tobacco and some processed foods and beverages rather than the domestic food situation, including the livestock industry.

The but major strange investment involving livestock is a Cuban-Vietnamese joint venture in cattle and swine approved in May 1997 and inaugurated in Ninh Binh in June 1997. The Vietnamese enterprises, Phung Thuong and Don Giad, were to contribute two-thirds of the initial investment. Bacuranao, a Cuban cattle enterprise, was to contribute the remainder. The joint venture was created for production of livestock and processing of pork and beefiness, primarily for the tourist trade. High-quality semen was also to be produced for herd comeback. Contempo reports, however, indicate the "international economic association" has non been established successfully and is in the process of dissolution.

Some other international economical clan in Cuba in the livestock products area is a Cuban-Spanish joint venture known as Asturia. It is an association betwixt the Spain-based Peñasanta S.A. and Cuba'southward Ministry of Food Processing The joint venture volition initially process and bottle powdered milk imported from Espana.

In improver to these joint ventures, the Cuban Institute of Brute Sciences is offering various opportunities for foreign institutions to collaborate on research and technical matters, e.g., on biotechnology, including protein enrichment of by-products from the sugar industry; animate being physiology and diet, including systems to residuum rations, using tropical feed; pasture improvement, including intensive direction of pasture in depression input systems; product systems, including calf and replacement heifer breeding systems, natural breeding in dual purpose livestock and bogus breeding with low inputs.

In one case U.S. sanctions are lifted and normal commercial relations between the United States and Cuba resume, the most sought subsequently U.Due south. participation in Cuba'southward livestock sector, co-ordinate to Cuban officials, will exist for collaboration on research and technology. 22

Other Market place Considerations

All sectors of Cuba's livestock manufacture have been impacted past the lack of animal feedstuffs, especially since 1989. Cuba has had nifty difficulty in substituting domestic feed production and technology for lost imports.

For the hog sector, the abrupt cessation of feed imports has been the decisive factor in the decline of swine numbers. For beef cattle, the pass up in numbers began before 1989. Dairy cattle also have been affected by an inadequate feed supply. Milk product, total and on a per capita footing, in the 1990s has fallen significantly from the 1980s. Aside from internal factors, such as economic organization and management, a severe drought in the 1980s may have hit the cattle sector especially hard.

The livestock sector started the past decade from a position of heavy state involvement and, although there has been a reluctant shift toward economic decentralization, at that place has been footling indication of whatever impact on overall productivity. There are indications that productivity increased in the land sector following transformation of many state farms into UBPCs; however, this could be the result of shifting less efficient units to the non-country sector.

Prospects for substantial comeback in Cuba's livestock sector are directly linked to U.S.-Cuban relations, especially the market place admission policies enacted by the Cuban government following normalization of commercial relations between Republic of cuba and the U.s.a.. The vast size of the U.S. convenance stock, high level of technology in animal reproduction and physiology, advanced research on improved pasture grasses and animal feedstuffs, past experience of U.S. livestock interests in Republic of cuba, and other factors will ultimately affect the livestock industry in Republic of cuba.

Unique marketplace factors will provide opportunities in Cuba for the U.Due south. livestock manufacture. Some of the factors are:

• Proximity of the U.S. livestock industry to the Cuban market. Send of livestock genetics, peculiarly live animals, will have a comparative advantage over other country suppliers.
• Cuba'south growing tourist industry volition require substantial quantities of fauna protein foods. In 1998 Cuba reported 1.4 million tourists, with revenue from tourism 21% greater than the twelvemonth before. Republic of cuba'south share of the Caribbean tourist merchandise in 1998 was ix% compared to 4% in 1989. The number of tourists has grown from 300,000 in 1989 to an estimated i.7 million in 1999. Two one thousand thousand tourists are expected to visit Cuba in 2000.
• Proximity of Cuba to the tourist market place in the Caribbean islands. U.Southward. livestock entrepreneurs who want to invest in livestock production in Cuba will have an opportunity to supply products, not but for the Cuban domestic market, simply also for the export market—especially the tourist manufacture in nearby Caribbean area countries. Utilization of free trade zones in Republic of cuba could facilitate such investments.

Cuba offers the largest state area of any island in the Caribbean, and has favorable areas for livestock product, especially cattle in the eastern provinces. In addition, Cuba has a highly educated work force relative to many other countries. If Cuba's foreign investment climate were favorable, U.Southward. livestock investors could get a meaning cistron in livestock production in Cuba.

MARKET POTENTIAL

In the 1980s at that place was a growing dependency on imported feedstuffs for the livestock sector. Imports of beast and vegetable meal rose some 52% from 1980 to 1989. Certainly, the enormous driblet in feed imports in the 1990s has had major impact on the numbers and productivity of the livestock sector.

While the market for U.Southward. swine, sheep and equus caballus genetics will exist important when U.S. economic sanctions are lifted, prospects for substantial trade and investment in the livestock sector appear to be most favorable in cattle, both beef and dairy.

Since the revolution Republic of cuba'southward cattle population has decreased more 7%, while the human population has increased near 60%. If Republic of cuba were to regain the same ratio of people and cattle that existed in 1961, the cattle population would demand to increase from 4.7 million to 7.five million head. This would be a 70% increase in the number of cattle.

Following are the data used in calculating the number of cattle required to regain the number of cattle per 100 people existing in 1961:

While the cattle numbers stated in this newspaper are FAO or Cuban official data, it is estimated past Riera that the current number of cattle could be equally low as two 1000000 head, or even lower.23 Merely any the number might be, it is articulate that Cuba does not have an acceptable supply of beef and milk to run into the consumption demand of its people.

Building a domestic cattle manufacture in Cuba is going to depend to a big extent on the introduction of improved livestock genetics, but also important volition be the establishment of improved pasture grasses and legumes for feed. Older literature shows phosphorus and cobalt deficiencies in Republic of cuba, with the condition of other minerals generally unknown; therefore, proper mineral nutrition will also exist important.24

A report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) refers to livestock every bit the adjacent food revolution in developing countries, and states there has been "a massive increase in demand for food of animate being origin." The study points out that total meat product in developing countries grew at an almanac rate of 5.4% between the early 1980s and mid- 1990s. In almost developing countries per capita production kept up with population growth.25 In Cuba, during the aforementioned time period, total meat production declined. The rate of per capita meat consumption was negative, while the rate of population growth was positive.

Based on information and information bachelor, information technology tin can be concluded that following resumption of normal commercial relations between Cuba and the Usa:

• Cuba's population growth, urbanization and increased per capita income will generate stiff demand for food products of brute origin;
• Satisfaction of that need volition depend on increased livestock product in Cuba, specially through improvement of animal genetics and nutrition, also as the state'southward openness to international trade and foreign investment.

If Cuba has admission to foreign commutation for importation of nutrient, an immediate market place could open up for U.South. suppliers of livestock products—especially beef, dairy products, poultry meat and eggs. Refrigeration, which was not widely available in Republic of cuba earlier the 1960s, could facilitate a market place for these products.

The market place in Cuba for U.S. suppliers of livestock genetics and livestock products will depend largely on policies established in Washington and Havana, and, if those policies are favorable, U.South. exporters and investors of livestock genetics would have an opportunity to help Cuba rebuild an industry valued in billions of dollars.

FOOTNOTES

1. The author wishes to thank Ambassador Clarence Boonstra and Dr. Lee McDowell for reviewing the paper in draft form. Their insight into Republic of cuba'southward livestock situation and tropical livestock production in general, likewise as their comments on the paper, were helpful and appreciated. Responsibleness for content of the paper, notwithstanding, is entirely that of the writer.
two. McDowell, R. Eastward. "Issues of Cattle Production in Tropical Countries." Section of Animal Science, New York Land University, Cornell University International Agricultural Evolution Mimeograph 17, Ithaca, New York, December 1966.
3. Boonstra, Clarence. Personal communique. (Boonstra was the Counselor for Economic Affairs assigned to the U.S. Diplomatic mission in Havana from 1955-57. He likewise was assigned to Cuba from 1942-44 by the U.S. Department of State and from 1957-60 he made frequent private visits to Cuba.) four. Riera, Arturo J. "Cattle: The Forgotten Industry." Cuba in Transition—Volume
4. Washington: Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, 1994.
v. Ibid.
half dozen. Cuban Delegation to the X Regional F.A.O. Briefing. "Agronomics and Livestock Production in Cuba." Kingston, Jamaica, 1967-68.
7. García, Anicia. Personal communique. Centro de Investigaciones de la Economía Internacional (CIEI). University of Havana, Cuba. June 2000.
8. Cuban Delegation. Op. cit.
ix. FAO Website: http://apps1.fao.org/servlet/XteServlet.j. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italian republic, Information from 1961-1998.
10. Smith, Douglas, David Zimet, and Timothy Hewitt. An Overview of the Cuban Livestock Sector. International Working Paper IW95-18r, International Merchandise and Evolution Centre, Nutrient and Resources Economics Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, October 1995.
xi. Nova González, Armando. "La Agricultura Cubana: Evolución y Trayectoria." Centro de Estudios de la Economía Cubana (CEEC), University of Havana, Havana, Cuba, 1998.
12. Anuario Estadístico de Republic of cuba (AEC). Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas. Havana, Cuba. 1996, p. 208.
13. Centro Nacional de Control Pecuario (CENOP) in AEC, Capitulo IX, p. 208.
14. FAO Website.
xv. McDowell. Personal electronic communication.
sixteen. FAO Website.
17. FAO Website.
18. McDowell. Op. cit.
19. Nova. Op. cit.
20. FAO Website.
21. Delgado, Christopher, et al. "Livestock to 2020: The Side by side Food Revolution." International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D.C. 2020 Brief 61, May 1999.
22. Private discussion with the Cuban Vice Minister of Agriculture for Research and Evolution. June 2000.
23. Riera.Op. cit.
24. McDowell. Personal electronic advice.
25. Delgado. Op. cit.

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Source: https://www.ascecuba.org/asce_proceedings/market-potential-for-u-s-livestock-genetics-in-a-free-market-cuban-economy/

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