MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19280, 19 March 1926, Page 14

MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

THE SEASON'S OPERATIONS.

INCREASE IN LAMB OUTPUT.

HEAVY DECREASE IN BEEF.

The prospects for moat producers generally this vcar do nob bear such a piomising aspect as they did at the similar period of last year. There is still time for considerable improvement in the o\eiseas markets and it has to be remembered that last season was an exceptionally good one, particularly for lamb and mutton producers. .Beef, winch had been under a cloud for some years owing to strenuous competition by Argentine companies, also showed a distinct improvement and inspired graziers with the hope that cattle raising would again become at least reasonably profitable. Returns issued by the Meat Producers Board show that there has been a marked increase in the killing:, of lamb in Oio Dominion this season to the end of February while the killings of sheep and beef show substantial decreases.

The figures for the various classes for the two seasons are as follow:-

1925-26. 1924-25. Beef (quarters) . . 65,442 Wether mutton . . 676.221 /65,06/ Ewe mutton .. 325,5/2 ,^4,848 Lamb . • • • 2,553.321 2,119,2^4 Larger Shipments of Beef. The shipments to overseas markets this season to the end of February have been considerably heavier than those of the similar period last season. The quantity of beef shipped to .Britain to the end of February totalled 136.568 quarters of which 74,406 went to London and 62,162 to West of England ports. During the corresponding period of last season the beef shipped to .Britain totalled 45,243 quarters of which 35,605 went to London and 9538 to West (.'oast ports. Trade in beef to the Continent is evidently being developed for the quantity shipped to foreign ports at the end of February totalled 57,481 quarters against 30,455 for the similar period of last season, an increase of 27,025 quarters. Obviously the. beef shipments this season include a substantial proportion of cattle, slaughtered during the previous season. The stocks of meat held in cold stores in the Dominion at the end of February show considerable increases in lamb and wether mutton and decreases in ewe mutton and beef. The position is as follows, the figures for the 1924-25 season being shown in parentheses:—Beef, 50,346, quarters (93.009); wether mutton, 319,447 ( 280,112); ewe mutton, 201,493 (231,643); lamb, 1,281,603 (723,095).

The position in Auckland as far as the meat export trade was concerned, stated an expert yesterday, was satisfactory as regards production but prices on the overseas markets showed a substantial decrease compared with last season. Bookings at the freezing works for sheep and lambs showed a considerable increase although the number of cattle offering showed a decrease,

Improved Quality of Lambs. A much greater quantity of meat was being held in the, local stores this season, producers declining to ship in the hope of an improvement in the overseas markets. At this time last year ordinary North Island lamb was quoted in London at ll£d per lb. compared with this year's quotation of 9d. Wethers quoted last March at 9d were now at 6£d. Ox beef had dropped from 5 l-8d per lb. to 3Ad. It was difficult to assess the prospects of the market, but any change from the figures mentioned should be for the better. A pleasing feature of the season's operations was that the lambs treated for export showed better quality and finish than those slaughtered last season. _ There were plenty of cattle in the province that would have to be killed sometime during the season. Meanwhile feed was good in most districts and growers were keeping them as long as possible in the hope of an improvement in prices. Those who had provided timpie winter feed would be able to hold their stock in good condition to supply the local winter market. This frequently meant a rise up to £3 a head compared with summer rates and provided a satisfactory return to the producer.