MEAT EXPORT TRADE

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

MEAT EXPORT TRADE

SURVEY OF LAST SEASON IN THE DOMINION A survey of the meat export season in New Zealand during the year 1927-28 is given in the 41st annual review’ of the chilled and frozen meat trade issued by W. Weddel and Co., Ltd. It states that the season wa.. again a very satisfactory one for the producers of the Dominion. While there was a much greater volume of stock killed for export, the census returns showed that the flocks and herds in New Zealand continued to expand. The number of cattle killed during the season was nearly double that of 1927. and the increase in lambs killed amounted to nearly 600,000 head. In most of the North Island districts, the stock came forward in \ery good condition, the season throughout having been a very good one for fattening. The North Island was chiefly responsible for the increased number of lambs killed for export. A long dry spell during January and February caused the growers some anxiety, hut the splendid autumn which followed gave the pastures new life aDd considerably extended the killing period. In Canterbury the season was not so satisfactory as in the North Island. Although a very fresh spring was exper:r*nccd and there * able, the grass proved to be too soft, and growers had difficulty in fattening their lambs satisfactorily, the result being larger carcases, but poorer in quality and finish. The number of sheep in the Dominion at April 30 last was 27,133,810 head, an increase of 1.484,794 head, or 5.8 per cent, over the number returned in 1927. Last year's total was not only a record, but actually exceeded by more than half a million the peak year of 1918. In the I interval, the numbers had been down to j 22.222.239 in 1922. An indication that this expansion had i not yet come to an end was the fact that ! breeding ewes at 15,539,051 showed an j increase of approximately 5 per cent, i over the number in 1927. For the first time since 1923 there was 1 a small increase of 16.040 head in the j number of cattle returned at January 31, the figures being 3.273,769 against 3.257,729 in 1927. In the dairy herds, however, there was an increase of 49,173 head, so that beef cattle were still declining. The strong statistical position for mutton in June and July encouraged a ~ond deal of forward buying, particularly of ewes, and th« decline in prices ’ater in the year resulted in heavy losses to importers. C.i.f. business In lambs was rw>br»blv more a * -* it hid been for some years. New Zealand sellers were more reasonable in their asking nrices, and the good quality of the first arrivals stimulated forward buying. Exnorts for the year amounted to 2.004.963 carcases of mutton. 5.919,814 carcases of lamb, and 384,104 quarters of beef, out of which 523 tons of mutton, 416 tons of lamb and 13.000 tons of beef were shipped to markets other than the United Kingdom. The principal on :• side market last year was New Yo-k* which imported 360 tons of muttQß- 0 ! tons of lamb jjod Q-tons of i>€rt. i