Call for beef co-ordination

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32613, 22 May 1971, Page 2

Call for beef co-ordination

A call for a co* ordinating authority or organisation for the beef industry in New Zealand was made at the Lincoln College farmers’ con* ference yesterday by Dr G. C. Everitt, principal scientific officer of the Ruakura agricultural research centre at Hamilton. 'Dr Everitt described this as being the most urgent requirement of the industry. Between 1965-66 and 196970, he said, the contribution of beef and veal to national gross farm income had about doubled, and their contribution to export income from meat had increased from 28 per cent in 1966 to 42 per cent last year.

Professor B. P. Philpott formerly of the staff of Lincoln College had recently predicted that over the next decade beef exports could increase by 100,000 to 130,000 tons at reasonable prices. E.E.C. EFFECT This change in farming emphasis was likely to continue if prices for animal products remained about present levels. However the degree to which the dairy industry entered beef production a factor largely dependent on the political discussions now taking place in Europe could have a profound effect on the position. Potential prospects were unlikely to be achieved efficiently or easily in the present unco-ordinated state of the industry. Dr Everitt said.

At present the industry 1 lacked cohesion, there was 1 little or no opportunity for J interchange between fanners, research and extension < workers, meat processors, j exporters and retailers, and , grading and marketing experts. “Until such time as this problem is tackled and solved, just so long will the J industry stagger blindly■ ahead," he said. ■ SYNTHETIC MEAT The need for integration < of the industry’s forces | would become increasingly 1 apparent as the development' of artificial meats gathered 1 momentum. The development - of these was taking place 1 rapidly in countries of major ( importance to New Zealand < the United States and t Japan. There was no easy < answer but low-cost produc-1

tion of meat, especially manufacturing grade beef, woud play a vital role in the challenging times ahead. Farmers, he said, were served by advisory services but this was not the case with others in the industry. PRICES, GRADING The complex problem of carcase grading and the relationship of grades to consumer demand and schedule prices offered by processors needed an impartial inquiry. The problem of future supplies of animals for beef production would loom larger in the years ahead: The astronomical prices paid for young cattle this season the equivalent of $35 per 1001 b carcase weight at Omarama in Otago spelt danger ahead and illustrated the shortage problem, especially in the South Island.