Higher Lamb Sale Potential In U.K.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31177, 29 September 1966, Page 6

Higher Lamb Sale Potential In U.K.

(.Veu> Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, Sept. 28. Many people in the New Zealand meat trade believe that the British market has a potential to absorb 25 million New Zealand lambs annually, according to Mr H. A. Seifert, a representative of the New Zealand-owned freezing companies.

Mr Seifert said in Auckland that this was not to suggest that New Zealand should aim to increase exports from the present 20 million lambs in a sudden rush within two or three seasons.

To do so, he said, could have a depressing effect on the market.

Expansion could be accomplished over six to eight years by “filling up the pockets” in areas of Britain where there was now a low consumption of New Zealand lamb. Consumption varied considerably in different regions in Britain. Mr Seifer said lamb had to compete with the broiler chicken. It was estimated that British broiler chicken produc-

tiou over the next 12 months would total 150 million carcases or the equivalent of about 10 million lambs.

The need to diversify lamb markets outside Britain arose from the fact that New Zealand would increase production faster than the full potential of the British market could be developed. “Over the next decade New Zealand has the prospect of a lamb kill of possible more than 30 million lambs,” said Mr Seifert.

“It is recognised that the British market has a potential capacity to take still more of our lambs, but there is an equal awareness of the need to develop markets outside Britain. “Let there be no misunderstanding that the task of developing these markets is urgent, but it will not be easy.”