Livestock farming

Since agriculture on this island, together with some of the important industries derived from it, is the chief source of the public economy, the main efforts of ‘governors and governed’ alike should be directed towards protecting this so widespread industry as far as possible. In this way everyone will contribute to the greater prosperity of the population of the Madeiran archipelago. Three valuable ‘elements’, besides others of lesser importance, are most intimately bound up with this subject and at once claim our special attention: Water, Forests and Livestock.

We dealt with the first of these at length in the article Levadas (II-235-269), where we stressed the importance and necessity of the levadas (irrigation channels) and the benefits they have brought. Everyone hopes that the measures adopted by the decrees of 21 October 1943 (‘Aproveitamentos Hidraulicos da Madeira’) will complete more satisfactorily the outstanding services already rendered over the long period of several centuries.

The second valuable ‘element’ to consider is the conservation and development of the Forests. A legislative act is indispensable here. After a rigorous study has been carried out, it should mark out beyond dispute the boundaries of the ‘common lands’ (baldios) belonging to private individuals, to the municipal councils and to the State. It should lay down with clearly defined precision the powers of the bodies that are to oversee these services. Finally, it should provide for the creation of a ‘forestry district’ (circunscrição florestal), which would be empowered to enforce all the legal provisions that have been or may be published on the matter.

The third ‘element’, which is of capital importance and deserves the most devoted protection, is the livestock question. Only a few years ago did it begin to attract the careful attention of the official departments and to awaken in the public a particular interest hitherto unknown here in Madeira.

This initial movement is owed to the valuable studies carried out by the Livestock Intendancy (Intendência de Pecuária) of this district. On so momentous a subject, it drew up a large and substantial report, setting out the most suitable measures to adopt in our circumstances in order to achieve the most profitable results for the agricultural industry of our island.

The selection and improvement of breeds, the rearing and care of livestock, their hygienic housing, veterinary services, fodder, milk production, mutual protection and many other interesting aspects of this most useful subject are treated in that report with great clarity, with the necessary thoroughness and with the most remarkable expertise, which does great honour to the distinguished official who conceived and wrote it.

It would be most desirable for a popular edition of this valuable document to be produced, intended for distribution throughout our countryside and villages.

In referring, however briefly, to this subject, it would be a flagrant and unforgivable injustice not to mention the excellent studies published in several issues of the Boletim de Informação e Publicidade, issued by the National Board for Dairy Products of Madeira (Junta Nacional dos Lacticínios da Madeira) and edited by the distinguished engineer Luís Pedro Baptista. These studies are of particular interest for the relationship between agriculture and livestock farming through the important dairy products industry.

The articles of this Elucidário on Livestock, the Dairy Industry, Dairy Products and Pastures offer some useful material on this subject.