A World Beef Shortage

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 31

A World Beef Shortage

FALLING OFF OF ARGENTINE SUPPLIES CAUSING CONCERN

Chance Offers For New Zealand

Some rather alarming statements regarding the gradual falling-off of the world's beef supplies made recently by Sir William Haldane, the noted British agriculturist, have created widespread interest, and have iocused attention on a problem that is likely to affect very seriously the meat-eating countries of the world. The principal disturbing factor is that the Argentine, the bigget source of supply, Is faced with a rapidly-falling production, while at the same time the world’s consumption is increasing steadily. The question as to how this deficiency is going to be made up is a most vital one, and it is one over which the New Zealand producer may well ponder.

The figures on which the statements are based show that the number of cattle slaughtered in the Argentine last year was over 400,000 head less than in 1927, a reduction of 12£ per cent. In the exports of chilled and frozen beef the reduction was still greater, and amounted to 24 per cent, or 2,000,000 quarters. The position is steadily growing worse. Already during the first three months of this year the slaughtering for export trade has shown a further reduction of 15 per cent, on that of last year. The opinion is held in stockbreeding circles in the Argentine that the country has reached and passed the maximum point of its beef-exporting capacity. One of the main causes to which the shrinkage is attributed is the excessive demand made upon the Argentine during the recent meat war, which gravely accentuated the depiction of the country’s cattle resources which has been going on since 1922.

Another reason is that because the head of cattle available for slaughtering purposes has become so much smaller many of the elaborate plants set up at great cost by the exporting companies during the Great War iu order to expand their trade can no longer be run at a profit, and consequently have had to be closed down. Then again, the companies have been hit li3rd by the restrictions on export trade that it has been found necessary: to impose against the Argentine so as to reduce the risk of transmission of foot-and-mouth disease to other countries. Argentine stock-breeders, it is stated, are beginning to find that the fattening of cattle is a declining industry, and that it may pay them better in the present condition of the market to tern their attention to the production of grain, with the consequent breaking up of the best fattening pasture* for tillage, and the breeding of sheep. Great Britain, Sir William points out, is likely to be the heaviest sufferer, as beef is looked upon there as one of the main articles of the national diet. And yet lor 58 per cent, of its consumption, Great Britain depends on supplies from overseas. Up to the present over 40 per cent, of that has been imported from the Argentine.

The London “Timci;,** in s leading article, looks upon it as a matter for regret that British farmers do not produce a larger proportion of the particular kind of meat that the population of Great Britain prefers to any other, and that the Empire overseas can at present supply so little for export.

Another aspect that has to be faced, it is shown, is that the United States of America, which is at present suffering a beef famine, will have to look to the Argentine for relief, and to do so, of course, it will have to waive the foot-and-mouth disease restriction against that country. But the fact that it has already allowed ihe entry of Argentine beef, indicates that there is no other option but to take this step, if the shortage is to be remedied. Great Britain’s prospects, In these circumstances, are far from bright, and, as “The Times’* states, “it is only natural and right that she should look to the Dominions for help.” “The Times." however, is content to throw the hulk of the responsibility on to South Africa, and is rather sceptical—and justifiably so, too—as to whether the other Dominions, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, can be of any assistance, unless, in course of time, conditions are radically altered. New Zealand’s exportable surplus of beef during recent years has been very* small, and has by no means reached stable limits. During the last five years it has been subject to constant fluctuation. For instance, in 1923-24 the amount exported was 627,270 cwt, and two vears later had been reduced to 516,953 cwt. In 1926-27 it had fallen away to 368,287 cwt, and the following year saw it jump op to 697.221 cwt. Though it is openly admitted that the quality of the beef grown in this country is not as good as that grown in the Argentine, this factor is not likely to operate to the detriment of the Dominion should it make an effort to increase its production to meet, as far as it is able, the lack on the Home market. The opportunity opens up Immense possibilities, and an expansion of this side of our export trad© is greatly to be desired. The natural resources are here sr.d now • there is the Incentive. Why not make the most of both?