“Talk Beef, Think Beef”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29052, 14 November 1959, Page 12

“Talk Beef, Think Beef”

A change in the New Zealand meat producers’ tradition was advocated by Mr P. J. Borthwick when he told farmers at Waitara this week to “talk “beef” and “think beef”. Mr Borthwick, the New Zealand director of Thomas Borthwick and Sons, Ltd., was judging a district export lamb competition, and he took the opportunity to say that it was time New Zealand farmers “steadied “up a bit ” on lamb production. Although the market, both last season and this season, supports Mr Borthwick’s advice, farmers may be reluctant to take it Unques-

tionably, as the market for lamb and mutton is weakening, the demand for beef is increasing. New Zealand has excellent opportunities for growing and fattening the prime beef

for which there are expanding markets, in Britain and the United States especially. New Zealand has in the dairy industry a great and cheap source of saleable beef, as Dr. McMeekan, director of the Ruakura Animal Research Station, has pointed out. The meat so produced could be a valuable supplement to normal exports of high-quality beef. A good deal of research has been done on improving the lines of beef that this country can sell, and a considerable swing towards beef has taken place. Mr Borthwick’s opinion that changed market requirements call for more positive moves in this direction is backed, of course, by his special knowledge and experience. It is advice not lightly to be disregarded.