BRITISH MEAT SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23319, 3 May 1941, Page 6

BRITISH MEAT SUPPLIES

REDUCTION OF HERDS N AND FLOCKS (F.O.dC.) LONDON, March 26. While the Battle of the Atlantic lasts, the meat situation must continue strained, as all importance attaches to the safe delivery of seaborne munitions alone. As the Minister for Agriculture has indicated, more food an acre can be got from arable land than from pasture, and the reduction of herds and flocks must proceed over the next six months. Poor-yielding dairy cows must also go. Beef cattle will be reduced by a smaller intake and a more rapid slaughter. Breeding sheep have already been appreciably reduced in numbers; on the other,hand, hill sheep and arable sheep are to be maintained. Pigs and poultry must go short of feed and consequently be greatly reduced, though. it will not mean their* end. Thus U is seen that all stock-raising farmers'in (Great Britain are now called upon to make big sacrifices. Nearly a quarter century . ago an effort was made to establish a dead meat - export trade from Ireland. In 1920 a modern meat works, planned on the lines of the best Southern Hemisphere practice, started meat killing operations at Drogheda, under the title of the Irish Packing Company, Ltd;, but although no flaw could be found in the technique of the work set on foot, only a few shipments across to England were made, and the factory closed down and has remained inactive until the present day. Different reasons were ascribed for this failure. Some imputed mismanagenfent,. others unwillingness on the part of the Irish cattle owners to co-operate, while there were some who alleged that London Smithfield was unfavourable. However that may be, there is now said to be a prospect of an early opening Of the works, as recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have caused such cattle congestion as only a dead meat trade could relieve. The plant at Drogheda, includes an important refrigerating and meat chilling installation, •