Conference call for live sheep trade

Press, 9 August 1988, Page 8

Conference call for live sheep trade

Parties involved in live-sheep exports should reach agreement on the future of the trade, said the chairman of the live sheep export advisory committee, Mr Mick Connelly, yesterday. The committee has representatives from the Council of Trade Unions, Federated Farmers and the Livestock Exporters’ Association. Mr Connelly said a Government review of the future for the committee was expected before October 1. "But the Government is expected to consult the parties, before coming to a decision,” he said.' The committee was formed after confrontations on the wharves between farmers and unions and to fulfil the commercial needs of the trade. “The situation has changed since a Saudi Arabian decision to restrict animal age,” said Mr Connelly. He said Saudi needs had been formerly met by Australian wethers, but

there was now a requirement for younger animals. Saudi Arabia had restricted its live imports to sheep aged under 2J4 years. “That opens up an opportunity for New Zealand.” He said farmers had argued they needed to take advantage of the option of live exports. It was time for the parties involved to work out a future for the trade, which included processing, marketing and breeding, as well as live exports. Mr Connelly said live exports would affect the amount of proessing in New Zealand and agreement would also have to be reached on those whose jobs had been displaced by the hot meat trade. Live sheep export quotas for the 1988/ 89 year have been set at 1.5 million sheep, with provision for review. In May Federated Farmers called for the committee’s abolition and the lifting of quotas, claiming the restrictions were stifling the trpde. ,