THE MEAT TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20448, 30 June 1928, Page 10

THE MEAT TRADE.

WEDDEL AND CO.’S ANNUAL REPORT. CHANGE IN PUBLIC TASTE. ALTERED METHODS NEEDED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, May 19. Messrs W. Weddel and Co., in their annual report, state that trading in imported meat during 1927 provided very few satisfactory features. In some respects the year was even more disappointing than its immediate predecessors, although towards the end there was an improvement which seemed to promise that better things were in store. Over the first few months of the year the protracted coal strike of 1926 continued to cast its baneful shadow. Later on, the general trade of the country gradually improved; but as the consumption of meat increased supplies of one kind or another more than kept pace with the demand. The result was that the average of prices over the year was again lower than in the preceding year. From January to April chilled and frozen beef was offered for sale wholesale at approximately pre-war prices—probably the only article of food, or of domestic use. of which the same can be said. Much of the dissatisfaction with conditions at Smithfield, and in the country, was probably due to the almost continuous over-supply of chilled beef, which affected every other class of meat, including Home grown. The general impression created by these conditions was that trade was below normal, but month by month the figures of imports, and the quantities handled at Smithfield, proved that the consumption of meat was actually greater than ever. In Home-killed meat alone the quantity passing through Smithfield market was 16,055 tons (or 22.5 per cent.) more than in 1926. This was the response of the farmers of Great Britain to the embargo on imports of fresh meat from the Continent. , The average prices of nearly alt descriptions of imported meat experienced a further decline last year, ranging from Id to 4d per lb, but as the lowest prices happened usually at the time of the year when consumption was heaviest the actual decline in prices was greater than the average figures would indicate. Comparing the average prices of all descriptions of frozen and chilled meat with those ruling in 1913, we find that last year a figure was only 26 per cent, above the pre-war level. , , Importations of frozen and chilled meat into the United Kingdom during 1927 amounted to 946,776 tons, as compared with 930,035 tons in 1926, an increase of 16,741 tons, or 1.8 per cent. Chilled beef shows an increase of 36,692 tons, and frozen beef a decrease of 29,336 tons, so that in weight the imports of beef were very little heavier. In however, the increase amounted to 270,289 quarters, the explanation being that the average weight of the quarters received from the River Plate last year was lower than in the preceding year. Although the quantity of New Zealand lambs imported was tin largest for many years, the quality of many of them fell short of the usual standard. While the smallness of the carcasses helped the trade during the summer. While the smallness of the carcasses helped the trade during the summer, there was a dearth of wellfinished lambs later on, and prices at the close of the year touched the highest point of the period, if we except the nrst arrivals of the season. TOTAL CONSUMPTION. The total consumption of meat in the United Kingdom in 1927 is ctimated at 2,048,645 tons, of which 1,123,200 tons were Homo grown and 925,445 tons imported, the proportions being 54.8 per cent. Home-grown and 45.2 per cent, imported. Pork and bacon are not included in these figures. Re-exports of imported meat, amounting to 23,859 tons, were much heavier than usual, the 1926 total being only 0552 tons. The total weight of beef, mutton and lamb exported in 1927 by the freezing works of the world is estimated at 1,250.700 tons, as compared with 1.198,000 tors in 1926, 1.338,900 tons in 1925, and 1,328,100 tons in .1924. IMPORTATION FIGURES. The total importations of mutton from all sources amounted to 5.374,598 carcasses, as compared with 5,605,290 carcasses in 1926, a decrease of 230,092 carcasses, or 4.1 per cent. The individual totals, however, show greater variation. Australia sent 136,180 carcasses more than in 1926. Against this New Zealand shipped 166,245 carcasses fewer. From the Argentine Republic there was an increase of 276,245 carcasses, counterbalanced by an almost identical decrease from Patagonia, while Uruguay failed to reach the 1926 total of 157,680 carcasses. The total of 9,611,170 lamb carcasses imported last year is easily a “ record,” having exceeded the previous highest total by 703,613 carcasses. The increase over 1926 was 1,330,329 carcasses, or 16 per cent.: but was offset to some extent by the lighter average weights of the carcasses. Australian shipments were smaller by 354,887 carcasses, but from all the other sources of supply heavily agumented shipments were received. New Zealand, with an increase of 364.277 carcasses, for the first time exceeded the 5,000,000 mark. Argentina had a large increase of 853,360 carcasses and Uruguay a relatively larger one of 309,770 carcasses. Patagonia made a good recovery from the preceding year’s drop in supplies, with an increase of 142,643 carcasses. Another considerable falling-off in arrivals of frozen beef has to bo recorded, the total of 986,340 quarters imported being 544,850 quarters, or 35.6 per cent., smaller than the 1926 total of 1,531,196 quarters. The heaviest decrease was in respect of Australian shipments, which declined by 275,864 quarters, but New Zealand’s drop from 267,068 quarters to 131,060 quarters was perhaps more significant. From Argentina there was a comparatively small decrease of 48,084 quarters. Uruguay shipped to this country only 34,747 quarters, against 117,470 quarters in 1926. Importations of chilled beef during the year amounted to 6,585,429 quarters in 1926, an increase of 815,139 quarters, or 14.1 per cent. THE LAMB TRADE. A remarkable steadiness characterised the market quotations for best quality lambs during the greater part of the year; but the heavier grades and the lower qualities meeting, as they do, wider competition, experienced much greater variation in demand, and were consequently more, erratic as regards price. After a steady period of about six weeks, lamb prices suffered a sharp drop, which brought them at the end of March about Id per lb all round lower than the opening level. This was due to heavy arrivals meeting a rather poor consuming demand. At the lower prices current in April the demand was stimulated sufficiently to bring about a partial recovery in price as arrivals fell off. Thereafter a good trade was experienced until the end of July, when the competition of Home-killed lambs began to be felt, and although prime descriptions were able to maintain their level of price, other qualities suffered. An outstanding feature of the lamb trade during the autumn months was the extraordinarily large number of Homegrown lambs marketed, and the exceptionally low prices at which they had to lie sold. The percentage of poorly finished English and Scotch lamb was greater than usual, and this put a premium on best tegs and New Zealand lambs under 421 b in December— a most unusual occurrence. CHANGE IN PUBLIC TASTE. Eor some years past (the report proceeds) a gradual change has been taking place in the public demand for meat. Everybody wants smaller joints nowadays, but there arc not enough small joints to go round, so we have the unusual spectacle of light-weight second and third quality carcasses frequently commanding higher prices than prime heavy-weights. Along with this preference for smaller joints there has been developing a decided objection on the part of the public to these parts of the carcass which require extra trouble in cooking. For example, the margin in price between forequarter beef and hindqnarter beef is now much greater than it was before the war, while necks and breasts of mutton, although they make the most appetising dishes at a low cost, are at times almost unsaleable. These changes are attributed to the altered conditions of social life since the var. Whatever Ihe cause ru this change in public lasle may be. its effect upon the meat trade, both Home-grown and imported, is profound, and appears likely

to become more marked as time goes on. To meet the new conditions, breeders, stock raisers, and distributors will be obliged to alter their methods. Smallsized, early maturing animals will have to replace the present types, and some means other than those followed at present will have to be evolved of dealing with the coarser parts of the carcass. To a small extent the Argentine growers are meeting the situation by fattening up young steers from the time the calves are able to eat, and killing them at the age of 12 to 18 months, instead of the customary three years with a lean period in between. The product of these young; animals, which goes by the name ot “ baby beef,’ meets a ready demand on this market at top prices. PROSPECTS FOR 1925. As regards supplies in 1928, the Home production of beef, mutton, and lamb promises to be as heavy as ever. If the summer is anything like normal the animals available will go into consumption over a wider period, and so avoid the extremely low prices which ruled at the end of last year, owing to the abnormally wot summer necessitating the bulk of the cattle being marketed at the end of the year. The outlook at the moment is for a good season in Now Zealand, with more regular and perhaps heavier shipments. Australia can reasonably expect a heavier export of mutton and lamb after a succession of lean years. There can be no doubt that the general trade of this country is slowly improving, and consequently the consumption of meat at the present level of prices may be expected to show some increase, while the Mediterranean ports, the Far Eastern countries. United States, and Canada will doubtless continue to absorb increasing quantities from Australia and New Zealand. Looking at the position broadly and wthout taking into account possible political or industrial disturbances, the prospects for the current year are distinctly hopeful. A good general trade seems assured. and at prices not widely varying on average from those of 1927.