Devco to procure more than 2M lambs

Press, 27 November 1980, Page 24

Devco to procure more than 2M lambs

By

DOUG FYFE,

agricultural editor

The directors of the Meat Export Development Company, which is responsible for marketing of New Zealand lamb in North America, have approved the procurement of more than 2 miiiion lambs in the 1980-81 season.

This was announced by the chairman (Mr P. S. Plummer) after a meeting last week.

In a statement clarifying its buying policies for the benefit of farmers and exporters, the company says that it buys carcases after dressing, weighing and grading have been completed at works scales.

Procurement takes place only' at freezing works approved by the United States and Canadian Departments

of Agriculture. They must! also have the correct ageing l facilities to produce lamb tothe company's specifications. j Carcases of nominated ; grades and weights are bought from holders of, or : nominees of, a holder of a meat export licence, who has been allocated killing space at approved works. The company does not hold killing space and there- ; fore cannot purchase live- : stock directly from farmers.: nor can it guarantee the use! of facilities within works. :j The company does have a!' preference as to the timing* of its purchases and also as'] to weights and grades. Toj. achieve these objectives it < maintains direct contact it

I with farmers to communicate to them its needs and 'to inform them about its i North American marketing activities. “Put simply, excessive fat is not wanted. Increased body weights. however, permit the spreading of costs to enable the company to maintain a high percentage of its exports in valueadded, .fabricated and prepackaged forms.” The special ageing facilities have been limited both’ (in numbers and capacity.! |This has been an important: (consideration in planning* 'production for the North: American lamb market and can only be done with or by the works management.