MEAT EXPORT SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19691, 18 July 1927, Page 7

MEAT EXPORT SEASON.

KILLINGS IN NEW ZEALAND.

LAMB THE GREAT MAINSTAY. 1 PROBLEM OF BEEF MARKET. FOREIGN BUYING IMPORTANT. Killings for. export at New Zealand, freezing works in the season just ended were generally considerably in excess of those in the previous season, according to a return made by the New Zealand Meat Producers' - Board. All sections of the trade showed an advance except beef, killings of which have in recent years,, owing to tho unprofitable state of the markets abroad, declined steadily. The mainstay of tho New Zealand meat export trade has for several years been lamb and it is gratifying that the returns in this department show an encouraging increase. Lambs killed for export in the season, November 1 to June 30, totalled 5,337,854, against 4,955,243 in the previous season, an increase of 382,631 carcases, or about 7g per cent. Killings of wether &ncl ewe mutton also advanced substantially, the gain being about 120,000 carcases. A good deal of attention has lately been given to the development of an export market for pork and in this section tho returns show remarkable progress. Animals slaughtered for export totalled 75,472 against 49,699 the previous season, an increase of 25,773 carcases or moro than 50 per cent. Despite the progress showu the trade must still be regarded as in its infancy and capable in this dairying country of great expansion. Beef Exports Decline. In the beef section 162,006 quarters were killed for export, against 215,856 in 1925-26, a decline of 53,850 quarters, or about 25 per cent. There was some compensation for this falling off in the • fact that the season yielded 207,338 freight carcases of boneless beef, against 199,034, an increase of 8304. Sundries under all heads declined heavily, the total being 51,974 freight carcases against 111,704. The detailed returns of killings for export in the past two seasons are as fol-. lows, the figures representing carcases, except in the case of beef (quarters) and boneless beef and sundries (freight carcasos): — 1926-27. 1925-26. Beef .. .. 162,006 215,856 Mutton— Wether .. 1,291.999 1.191,062 Ewe .. .. 798,079 774,108 Lamb . . . . 5,337.854 4,955,243 • Pork . . . . 75.472 49.699 Boneless beef . . 207,338 199,034 Sundries . . . 51.974 111.704 A return is also made by the board of stock on hand in stores in New Zealand on Juno 30. In practically all classes the stockg are larger than a year ago, the number of lamb carcases in store being 1,057,939, against• 764,776 on June 30, 1926. This heavier carry-over into the off-season is not very serious, however, when consideration is given to a further return of stocks of frozen meat loaded into steamers not departed from New Zealand. These were much greater a year ago, being, in the case of lamb, 432,057 carcases, against 157,685 on June 30 last. It is obvious, therefore, that the presence of more refrigerated steamers on the coast a year ago accounts for the comparatively greater clearance of New Zealand stores at that date. Britain the Chief Market. A return is also made showing shipments from New Zealand for the period and their destination. These figures once again demonstrate the paramount importance of the British market to New Zealand producers. The quantities exported to other countries are by comparison negligible. A certain amount of beef, mutton and lamb was sent to Canada, the United States, Egypt and France, but the great bulk was absorbed in London (principally) and West of 'England ports. Foreign markets do, however, absorb a good deal of New Zealand be'ef, and in this section they are important as our beef is practically shut out of English markets by the intense competition and superior quality of the Argentine product. Thus in the last eight months 35,975 quarters of beef were exported to English ports and 20,994 quarters to Port Said, New York, Vancouver and Havre. The last-named took the bulk, 16,846 quarters, against 24,339 in the corresponding period of 1925-26. Port Said is a new market and absorbed 3484 quarters, while consignments to New York and Vancouver were very small. A year ago a good deal was published concerning the first shipment of 31,840 quarters of New Zealand beef to Genoa, the port of industrial Italy. It was hoped at that time that a new and profitable market had been opened which would assist our beef industry and, more important, encourage the carrying of cattle on those North Island pastoral lands which rapidly puffer deterioration unless grazed by cattle. Apparently the result of the experiment was not encouraging, as there has been no shipment t< Genoa this year. Prance Buys Beef. Through the port of Havre a market has been developed in France and this appears to have been fairly well held, 16,846 quarters being shipped this season against 24.339 last season. No exports were made to Antwerp, which in 1925-26 took 19,572 quarters. Foreign ports,, witb the exception of small quantities to New York/ an " couver and Halifax, took no New Zealand lamb, mutton or pork. It was left to tho English markets to absorb the very large consignments of these products. As showing the capacity of the English market, consignments to London in the last eight months comprised 26.864 quarters of beef, 1,1.36,202 carcases of mutton. 3,433,637 of lamb and 23,799 of pork, while West Coast ports took 9111 quarters of beef, 112,333 carcases cf mutton, 719,283 of lamb and 36,993 of pork.