MEAT PRODUCTION.

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 62, 10 August 1944, Page 4

MEAT PRODUCTION.

SATISFACTORY COOL STORE CLEARANCES.

Fortnightly returns of killings at export freezing works, prepared by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, show further improvements due to the prolonged season. The cool storage position is stated to be satisfactory, promising well for good clearances before the opening of next season. Export killings to July 15, with the corresponding figures for last season in parentheses, are as follows: — Lambs, 10,488,130 (10,948,342. Wethers, 638,690 (609,215). Ewes, 1,953,940 (1,712,383). North Island: Lambs, 5,728,786 (5,832,281); wethers, 581,894 (548,48 U ewes, -,376,237 (1,175,896). South Island: Lambs, 4,759,344 (5,116,061); wethers, 56,796 ( 60,735); ewes, 577,703 (536,487). Beef (quarters), 471,272 (558,722); boneless beef (freight carcases),

568,703 (864,256); and bobby veal 73,413 (89,406). Reports from the Board’s Supervising Graders show that stock are wintering well. The weather in Auckland district was reported as excellent, with stock looking well, and the West Coast of the North Island has also experienced a good winter. Regarding Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne districts, it is stated that if present conditions are maintained, there is every prospect of ample feed being available in the spring. Manawatu pastures are looking well, and in the Wairarapa early lambs are reported to be getting a good start. Very little rain has fallen in Otago and Southland in the last fortnight, the conditions being the best experienced this winter.