CHILLED BEEF TRADE

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4815, 26 July 1939, Page 5

CHILLED BEEF TRADE

RAPID EXTENSION.

MORE REGULAR SUPPLIES REQUIRED.

LIMITED SHIPPING SPACE. The rapid development of the chilled beef industry which only commenced in the 1933-34 season is shown by the following figures published in the seventeenth annual report of the N.Z. Meat Producers' Board to be submitted to the annual meeting of delegates at the end of this month.

Shipments of N.Z. Chilled Beef to United Kingdom, etc.

It is anticipated that the total shipments for this season will reach the figure of 280,000 quarters. The f.o.b. value of chilled beef exported from New Zealand, according to the official statistics, for the 12 months ended 31st March, 1939, was £708,069.

Now that our export of chilled beef has become such an important part of our meat trade, and also having regard to its further great potentialities, the Board would again stress to farmers the importance of continued efforts being made to still further improve the quality of the chiller they are breeding. Improved breeding, and well finished cattle, together with more regular monthly supplies, will greatly assist in developing this trade along the right lines.

Thorough wintering of cattle intended for slaughter in the following season will enable them to be fattened earlier and spread more evenly over the season. The object should be to avoid the rush of chillers usually available during the peak months from the middle of March to the end of April. It is recognised that there will be always more cattle available during the peak period, but it is almost impossible for; the shipping companies to cope with an abnormal rush, as the chilling accommodation of the vessels which are equipped to carry chilled beef is limited. In addition, it should be remembered that the trade in London requires a steady flow of supplies, and not abnormal quantities in one short period. Furthermore, chilled beef always maintains a more regular price during the cooler months in England.

Season quarters 1933-34 15,576 1934-35 64,514 1935-36 144,169 1936-37 201,105 1937-38 237,186 1938-39 (to May 31) 192,938