EXPORT MEAT KILLINGS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 10

EXPORT MEAT KILLINGS

New Zealand's export killings of lamb and mutton which this season had not been equalling those of Dio previous season. owing to the policy of keeping stock longer on the farms in order io secure heavier carcase ‘weights, have now caught up on the disparity. The latest details of killings at export freezing works, prepared by the Meat Producers' Board, show that lamb production to April 14 had reached a total practically up to Dial of last season to April 15, while ewes killed this season were 14.055 in excess of tho previous season, wethers 94,879 carcases and beef 181,479 quarters. Still greater improvement in volume of meat exports can bo shown if heavier carcase weights are taken into account. Export killings at New Zealand meat works this season till April 14, .with the figures for last season till ■ April 15 ■ in parentheses, were:—Lamb (carcases), 7,701,139 (7,704.905); wethers (carcases). 472,037 (377,158); ewes (carcases) 1.328,848 (1,374,793); beef (quarters), 293,779 (117.300). Average killing weights to April 14. with the comparative figures in parentheses were:—-North Island: Lambs, 34.511 b (32X2); wethers, 60.991 b (56.33); ewes, 57.88 lb (53.29) South Island: Lambs. 35.701 b (34.53); wethers 53.131 b (49.19): ewes, 55.011 b (52.96). Reports on climatic and feed conditions from the board’s supervising graders on April 23 show that in the Mahawatu and West Goast districts wintry weather had checked growth, but the feed position was regarded as being quite good. Hawke’s Bay, it was reported, needed rain, and conditions wore very dry in Poverty Bay. thus reducing the supply of feed to carry stock further into tho winter. Changeable weather prevailed in tho Manawatu, where pastures were very good. A rainfall in the Wairarapa would, it was reported, help to improve the pastures, which were regarded as fair to good.