MEAT EXPORT TRADE

Nelson Evening Mail, 9 November 1916, Page 5

MEAT EXPORT TRADE

SEASON'S IPBOSPECTS. ■OUTPUT OQT TEN IMILDI'ONS. A rough estimate of the amount which New Zealand will receive for meat sold to the Imperial Government in the exp'ort season just opening is ten million sterling!, says the Dominion. In spite of the very" heavy export of the last two seasons, and very severe drought in the ■South Island, tne sheep returns show

that Kew ?• aland' flocks •were only some 35,000 less on April 30 last than at that date last year, and some 10,000 less than in the year 1914. This year the North island lambing has been very fair, about as. gooa as last year, and in the South although there will be bad districts, it is expected that the average will be maintained. The figures showing the stock slaughtered; -*— export during the past three years are as follow: Sheep. . Lambs. 19io-14 ..•* 3,036,438 4,221.626 1915-lo ... 3,W,915 ■ 3,969.446 The reduction in the number of lambs killed in. 1915-16 is attributed to the ladfi?"~of rain in. Canterbury and North Otago. The numbers of cattle slaughtered for export in the same three years were:— 'Bullocks and heifers. 'Cows. Bulls. Total. 1913-14 63,378 36,364 9.937 109,679 7914-15 112,414 58,247 11.459 182,120 1915-16 104,497 94,314 12,520 211,331 A noticeable feature of last season's operations was the slaughtering of an unprecedented number.of cows, and young ■unfinished cattle, many of them heifers. The effect of this will not be apparent

this year, perhaps, but if this- slaughtering of female stock continues there must be a shortage of breeding cattle in the future, and a reduction of the output of beef.