FARMERS’ FREEZING COMPANY

Southland Times, Issue 23942, 7 October 1939, Page 14

FARMERS’ FREEZING COMPANY

INCREASED CATTLE AND SHEEP KILLINGS A further increase of 13,000 head in killings of cattle and 38,000 in sheep were commented on by Mr H. E. Worsp, chairman of directors of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, Limited, at the annual meeting. Lambs killed were fewer by 84,000 head, pigs by 39,000 and bobby calves by 5000. Butter received for the year amounted to 3,544,776 boxes, a drop from last year’s figure of 573,000 boxes, and from the figure of 1937 of 782,000 boxes. Cheese at 216,759 crates showed a drop of 12,000 crates. The causes which contributed to these decreases were a cold spring, very dry summer, and difficulty in securing farm labour sufficiently willing and able to justify its employment, the result being reduction of ’herds by numerous farmers. Fruit received totalled 207,520 boxes, or 49,000 fewer than in the previous year. Commenting on the beef industry, Mr Worsp said that the increased cattle killings consisted principally of boner quality cows. Severe culling caused by shortage of feed was the main factor in the increase. The reduction in dairy produce, which meant less skim-milk for pig food, accounted for the drop in the, number of pigs killed. The number of lambs available for export in the Auckland province last season was heavily reduced as a result of the eczema scourge of early 1938,

but it was expected that the coming season’s figures would show considerable recovery. Tire quality of the lambs was not up to the usual Auckland standard, the percentage of seconds being higher and the average weight lower. Indications were that both, in quality and weight a satisfactory improvement would be experienced thiF season.