C.F.M. looks to Middle East

Press, 6 May 1980, Page 35

C.F.M. looks to Middle East

Because of the potential of the Middle East market, The Canterbury’ Frozen Meat , Company, Ltd, plans to convert the Pareora freezing • works, near Timaru, to halal ’ killing next season, accord--1 ing to the chairman (Mr I. ’ E. 0. McKellar). In a half-yearly report to • shareholders, he said that i the company’s Fairton -works ' was killing and processing • lambs for the Iranian market, and that 63 per cent of • the lambs, killed had been : destined for Iran. “It is pleasing to note that ! lamb carcases processed this season on behalf of . the Meat - Export Development Company, Ltd, for sale on the American market have ' reached a record 385,000 lambs.!’ Killing for sheep and lamb to April 19 rose 8 per cent to 3.2 million. Earlier forecasts indicated a high total kill for the 1979-80 season, and -the directors were confident that the final figures would be well ahead of last season’s. Encouraged by the higher wool prices, farmers were shearing wether lambs and retaining more ewe lambs for breeding. The lush feed had its effect on growth, and many lambs were held longer in order to reach prime condition, which meant stock was slow in coming forward. “Good autumn feed will enable farmers to carry increased stock numbers through the winter, and the build-up in local breeding flocks will be in the best long-term interests of all,” Mr McKellar said. In contrast to some past seasons, C.F.M.’s plants had riot been under pressure, and in many cases were unable to achieve full killings each week. “Seasonal conditions, of course, make all . the difference, but this year has shown that there is plenty of killing capacity in the South Island if only we can spread the inflow of stock to the works.” Cattle killings fell 28,3 per cent to 46,120 to': April 19, and this appeared to be a continuing trend, he said. Statistics . gathered by independent organisations

f indicated that cattle numbers e in the South Island would t not reach last year’s levels - for at least another five ? years. Because of this it was I decided to restrict the activi- - ties of cattle killing at Bel- . fast. “Our aim is to keep the > plant running at break-even t point or better on a reduced 5 throughput, so that when » cattle numbers increase, the - plant is able to resume f working at full capacity. i “If at the end of the season the measures taken have t not been effective and 5 planned savings not I t achieved, the situation willl • be reviewed.” > Prices for edible offals > had fallen significantly since ) the start of the season, and with large stocks held in > cold storage in Britain, it t would appear there was . little chance of prices inl creasing in the immediate , future. Similarly pelt prices, ; which were high at the start tof the season, had subsequently fallen sharply. In ■ contrast, prices for slipe > wool remained firm, al- [ though there had been signs ;of weakening in recent | weeks, Mr McKellar said. Major extensions to the J rendering plant at Belfast L were completed early in the [ season, resulting in higher i product yields and reduced effluent discharge.