BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29008, 24 September 1959, Page 12

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION

Good Prospects For Export

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. September 23. “New Zealand is eminentlv suitable for the production of beef cattle and, in view of the world outlook and prospects, I would advise a swing to increased beef production where this is possible,” said Mr P. J. Borthwick today on his return from a business trip to the United Kingdom. Members of the Floor Price Committee, which fixes the minimum price to be paid to producers. should bear this in mind, or they would be responsible for pushing lamb production against market trends, he said. The price of New Zealand lamb in the United Kingdom had been adversely affected by the steady rise in home production, by the production of broilers and by the very hot summer experienced this year, Mr Borthwick said. “An undeniable factor in the reduced prices was, of course, the large quantity available this year from New Zealand.

“Nevertheless, the lower price level helped to get these lambs into consumption, and it can be said that every reduction in price, however small, expands the consuming market.”

Prospects for a renewal of chilled beef shipments to the United Kingdom next year depended upon the relative price for New Zealand's top quality beef in the United States.

“In any case, the United Kingdom is keen to get our chilled beef whenever it becomes available, as was evidenced by the small shipment we got away to London in June this year. It was received most favourably “The meat trade is fully alive to the marketing problems presented by increasing production, and no opportunity of development of North American or other markets will be missed,” Mr Borthwick said.