THE MEAT WORLD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 52, 24 November 1928, Page 26

THE MEAT WORLD

INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS BREWING OUR OVERSEA MARKETS ’ (By Nellie M. Scanlan.) Dominion Special Service. London, October 12. When the millionth lamb arrived from New Zealand this year, it established a new record for our great industry. In three years our exports have increased from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 carcasses of lamb, and prices have been very satisfactory, ranging about IOJd. Last month home-grown lamb (English and Scotch) was coming on to the market in tremendous quantities. The best of it was bringing about Id. to IJd. more than New Zealand. One advantage, however, we have. At the end of the day, the fresh-killed meat must be. sold, and often it went for Id. to'ljd. less than frozen, though earlier in the day it had brought that much higher. Our unsold meat ean. be sent back to cold storage. New Zealand frozen lamb also brought Id. to lid. more than the fresh-killed Scotch hill lamb, which is much inferior in quality. .

I was speaking, of these ,things with Mt. R.' S. Forsyth, Who is head of the New Zealand Meat Board in London. From his office Window on Holborn Viaduct he can look down at Smithfield Market. He had just come In from .the market, where an experimentar.shipment. of pigs from the Canterbury College had been sold. This little lot of 160 were the result of experiments in feeding, using different types of jfood,’ and Canterbury College is awaiting a report on them from Mr. Forsyth. ' • - •.. ..■ ..Foot and mouth disease is one of the curses of farmers, and New Zealand is fortunate, so far, in not having to be placed under the ban. It is-so rampant in many European countries, that Great Britain has put an embargo on animals and fresh meat from these sources. In order to evade this, pork is now being made into bacon, which is at present rather too plentiful on the market. New Zealand has therefore been experimenting in the sending of frozen pork to London, and the results seem to justify the hope of further, development in this direction.

One point Mr. Forsyth mentioned, however, Which must be borne in mind. New Zealand must decide whether she is breeding and feeding pigs for pork or bacon. The principal criticism of the trial shipment from Canterbury College was that a number of them were too heavy for pork and too Ight for- bacon. The ideal porker is 001 b.: anything between 801 b. And 1001 b will do. For bacon 130 to 1401 b. is best. But pigs weighing 1101 b. fall between the two classes. A writer recently was trying to encourage the English farmers by declaring that so much New Zealand meat was being diverted to the American market that English farmers, having less competition, would be able to obtain higher prices for their stock. North America was the first country to export chilled meat —she exported chilled beef to Great Britain nearly 30 years ago. Now, in her turn, she is importing frozen meat from British possessions. This year half of. the beef exported from New Zealand will have found a market in the United States, despite a lid. per lb. duty. It is shipped direct to New York, -and is distributed to the cities along the Atlantic coast. In England we get an average of 4Jd. per lb. for beef, and in America 5Ad. Apart from Canada, New Zealand is the only country from which the United States will take frozen beef without restriction. Australia, which also exports beef, has always removed a portion of the forequarter, owing to the effect of some disease upon a certain rib bone. This cutting of the carcass detracts from/its market value somewhat, and the United States, owing to this mutilation, will not allow Australian beef to enter their country. Whether our new American market will develop and become permanent, is still a matter of speculation. The quality of our. produce is undoubted, but Mr. Forsyth said that he had encountered a good deal of prejudice during his recent visit to America—prejudice against the-eating of frozen meat. The manufacturers of tinned soups, canned and potted meats, however, seem more Interested than householders in New Zealand beef, but our lamb on account of its excellent quality will find a ready market in the retail shops of America.. The customs duty of 2d. per lb. is, however; a great handicap 'in the development of this trade. Mr. Forsyth, who is also a'member of the Empire Marketing Board and other councils and committees',- In close touch -with trade and markets,' Is always alert to the chances and fluctuation's of the markets, and the indications, which, if rightly Interpreted, can be used to our advantage and profit. The job for the New Zealand farmer is to keep up the quality and Increase the quantity. The name New Zealand is always synonymous with first grade, and nothing must imperil that prestige. The Argentine, which has such a big hold on the British market with its chilled beef, is now faced with an embargo, owing to foot-and-mouth disease. The South Americans will not readily accept this barrier, as they have built up their enormous' trade in beef largely for the British market. If. however, it is actually proved that the importation of this chilled meat is I lie cause of spreading foot-and-mouth disease in England, they will meet the same fate as Holland, and be cut right off. At the moment there are interesting developments brewing in the meat world, and farmers in marly countries might'well be alert, aiid catch tho tide as it flows in their favour.