PRODUCTION OF MEAT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 12

PRODUCTION OF MEAT

Record Level In 1960-61 Meat production in New Zealand for the 1960-61 season is provisionally estimated at the record figure of 773.100 tons by the Department of Agriculture. The official estimate by the Government Statistician, based on returns after completion of the meat selling year on September 30 will not be available for some months, and as information is required for various purposes before then, the department prepares a forecast.

In the past, the department’s estimate has proved fairly close to the final figure. This is the third year in succession that total production has exceeded 700,000 tons and the estimate of 773,100 tons exceeds the previous season's production by more than 20.000 tons. The principal increases are in beef (more than 9000 tons higher) and lamb (almost 8000 tons higher). The figures for various types of meat with those for 1959-60 in parentheses are as follows:

Lamb, 279,600 tons (271,700); beef, 222,000 tons (212.800); mutton, 171.300 tons (169.300); pig meat, 39.600 tons (40,100); edible offal, 37.900 tons (35.500); and veal 22.700 tons (23,400).

The rapid increase in meat production in recent years has been a natural reflection of the marked expansion in stock numbers, particularly sheep. With the much lower rate of increase in sheep numbers during the last two seasons it is not likely that meat production will continue to expand at the same rate as in recent years.