U.S. DEMAND FOR LAMB

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 16

U.S. DEMAND FOR LAMB

N.Z. EXPORT PROSPECTS DISCUSSED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 3. New Zealand is not likely to gain a market for frozen lamb in the United States, in spite of a United States woolgrowers’ promotion drive to increase lamb consumption there. “Our lamb goes straight from the slaughterhouse to the retail market. There is no market for frozen lamb. It just won’t sell,” said a member of an American woolgrowers’ delegation which arrived in Wellington today after a tour of the North Island. The party comprises seven members. Present consumption of lamb in the United States is 4|lb a head of population a year, compared with between 1451b' and 1501 b a year of red meat a head. Americans eat more poultry than lamb or mutton, but all the lamb produced is sold. When asked whether the sales promotion drive in America would mean an* export market for New Zealand, members of the delegation said they did not think so, because the people would not buy frozen lamb. The purpose of the sales promotion drive was to create a greater demand, with a

consequent forcing up of prices. Members of the delegation said they saw little chance of New Zealand being admitted to that market. However, one member said that, if the demand increased to any extent, they would have to get more lamb from somewhere else. It was unlikely that United States producers could supply