SOUTH AFRICAN MEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21253, 5 August 1932, Page 10

SOUTH AFRICAN MEAT

Thcbold announcement at Ottawa that South Africa wants an opportunity to penetrate the British market for chilled beef has been followed by the arrival at Smithfield of the first commercial shipment, after two experimental shipments had beeii previously landed. Eulogistic opinions about the quality of the meat are given in a cable message. This does not mean that South Africa has conquered the market. Neither would the establishment- of a quota nor the granting of preference. In 1928 there wore some 10,412,000 cattle in the Union, compared with 3,274,000 in New Zealand in the same year, and 11,200,000 in Australia at approximately the same date. The South African herds are more numerous than those of other countries which export boef in quantity, but the actual number of cattle is no true criterion. A survey of the meat situation, contained in a recent South African publication, while claiming that the export of beef should be one of the great industries of the Union, admits that much must be done 3>efore such a hope could bo realised. Under war conditions a certain amount of trade was developed, but it subsequently languished because "the South African exporter has had to recognise that grades of meat which were eagerly accepted in wartime would not pass muster in normal markets." Since 1921 there has been a revival in the export figures, the value of meat sold overseas in 1930 having been £372,000. The greater part of the trade has been with Italy, and little headway has been made in the more critical market of Great Britain. It is frankly admitted that there is not enough quality stock for regular shipments of chilled beef, and the export of live cattle, though possible, is not an economic proposition owing to the high freight and other costs. If South Africa is really to challenge the supremacy of Argenthe chilled beef trade, it will be necessary to breed and fatten, as Argentina has done, with a direct eye to the requirements of the British market. There is no reason why it should not be done, but it cannot be done in a day or a year.