MEAT PRODUCTION.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 58, 27 July 1944, Page 2

MEAT PRODUCTION.

GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIGURES. With the season almost completed, the return of export killing prepared by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board for a three-week period ended on July 1, are of special interest. Previous reports mentioned the possibility of a drop in some phases of myjat production this season being lessened by a prolongation of operations, and this is fully supported by the latest figures, showing a great improvement in respect to mutton and lamb. Wether mutton killings according to the previous report were 13,000 carcases fewer than at the corresponding period of last season, but they are now 18,000 above. Ewes, which had been reported as 148,000 more than last season, have now exceeded that total by 230,000 carcases, while lambs, which were 803,000 down, have now come within 500,000 of the previous season’s production. Beef, also, shows improvement. It was previously shown to be 200,000 quarters below the previous season, and has now come to within 124,000 quarters of that total.

Export killings to July 1, with figures for the previous season to July 3, shown in parentheses, are as follows; — Lambs, 10,435,334 (10,935,035. Wethers, 626,560 (608,474). Ewes, 1,941,021 (1,711,005). North Island: Lambs 5,683,024 (5,819,101); wethers, 569,821 (547,741); ewes, 1,363,962 (1,174,520); South Island: Lambs, 4,752,310 (5,115,934); wethers, 56,739 (60,723); ewes, 577,059 (536,485). Beef (quarters), 430,092 (554,164); boneless beef (freight carcases), 543,588); and bobby veal, 67,313 (82,254). Average killing weights to July 1 have been as follows: —Lambs: Dominion average 33.591 b (33.501 b North Island: 32.741 b (32.451 b South Island, 34.611 b (34.691 b Wethers: Dominion averages, 55.111 b (54.311 b North Island: 55.661 b (54.901 b South Island: 49.671 b (48.961 b The average weight of ewes is 52.63 lb, compared with 54.421 b in the preceding season—North Island 53.071 b (55.701 b South Island: 51.591 b (51.61 lb.

Satisfactory conditions for the wintering of stock have been reported from all parts of the North Island. The Board’s Supervising Grader in Auckland district states that weather conditions have been excellent and pastures are looking well. In Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts feed is reported to be almost holding its own even under conditions of frost, and the country generally looks fairly well. On the West Coast, the feed position is good for mid-winter, and stock are said to be faring, well, weather conditions having been unusually good. A similar report has been made on pastures in the Alanawatu.