COMMERCIAL Commonwealth Meat Production Increases

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28784, 3 January 1959, Page 15

COMMERCIAL Commonwealth Meat Production Increases

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, January 2. The upward trend in world meat output was checked in 1957, but Commonwealth production increased further, according to a review published today by the Commonwealth Economic Committee. However, international trade rose sharply, and total exports were about 10 per cent, greater than in 1938. Most of the increase in 1957 was in beef and veal, shipments of which reached a record level, but those of mutton and lamb were the lowest since 1951.

Although continuing to be the dominant import market for carcase meat as a whole, the United Kingdom took only 66 per cent, of world supplies in 1957, as .against 84 per cent, before the war.

While the demand from the Continent remained heavy, an important feature was the expansion in United States imports of beef, particularly from New Zealand and Canada. This development became even more pronounced in 1958, when the decline in United States beef production caused world meat production as a whole to show some reduction; More Beef Produced

World production of beef and veal, now more than 60 per cent, greater than before World War 11. showed little change in 1957, but the Commonwealth total continued to increase after heavier output in New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. ; Total exports rose by 16 per cent, with Australia and Denmark recording the most marked increases. As in, 1956, Commonwealth countries together accounted for about one-third of the world trade.

United Kingdom imports of chilled beef, which are drawn mainly from Argentina, rose by 5 per cent. A marked recovery in arrivals from Australia led to an increase of 7 per cent, in receipts of frozen beef.

Consumption of beef and veal a head in the United Kingdom, at some 541 b, was about Jib higher than in 1956, and only Jib below the pre-war average. In Australia, consumption fell by 81b to 1211 b, while the most recent figures available for other important beef-eating countries are New Zealand, 1131 b. United States, 931 b, and Canada, 841 b. In spite of the increase in. supplies, prices of fresh and chilled, beef in the United Kingdom during 1957 were, on the average, slightly higher than in the previous year, while a decline in production and imports caused an appreciable increase in all beef prices in the third quarter of 1958 Less Mutton and Lamb Wprld production of mutton and lamb, of which Commonwealth countries account for about 60 per cent., showed little change in 1957, a substantial increase in Australian output being offset by reductions in New Zealand, the United-States. -om»iArgmtti«».The downward trend in exports of mutton and lamb continued during the year, but the total Remained slightly greater’ than before the war. Although the recovery in ship-

meats from Australia was more plan outweighed by the decline! m those from New Zealand, the Commonwealth’s share of world trade rose to more than 81 per cent.

United Kingdom consumption a head fell by lib, to about 22Jlb. Elsewhere, consumption rose v by 31b to 781 b a head in Australia ■ but declined by 41b to 761 b ini New Zealand.