Quality Of N.Z. Beef To U.S. “Not Satisfactory”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 8

Quality Of N.Z. Beef To U.S. “Not Satisfactory”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 22.

The quality of the Dominion’s beef was not satisfactory for the American market, and the importation of New Zealand beef on the hoof had noirbeen really successful, said Mr L. A. Rozzoni, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, in Wellington today. Mr Rozzoni said that the United States was not an inexhaustible market for the Dominion’s beef Beef prices were expected to fall considerably by the middle of 1960 because American producers would be able to provide all the, beef required for domestic consumption. If the pnceof locally-produced beef dropped, efforts would be made to stop beef entering the United States. » P :

“New Zealand has not got the quality or weight of beef tifit our people ware Accustomed to,** he said. “We feed cattle ' grain, and grain puts quality into beef. That is the factor that increases consumption of beef and gives domestic production preference over importations. “We have a land potential capable of producing far more meat than we are doing today. It would be a mistake for New Zealand to glue herself to the American market,” he added. Mr Rozzoni said that at present lamb prices were depressed on the American market. If New Zealand wanted to export lamb there would have to be .talks between American and New Zealand producers. The annual lamb consumption in the United States was now 41b a head, compared with 4.61 b a head in 1952. The sale of lamb was restricted because there was not enough available to encourage distributors to open new markets. Paying tribute to New Zealand pastoralists, Mr Rozzoni said the quality of New Zealand pastures was unsurpassed.