MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1415, 13 October 1923, Page 8

MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD.

Hi a letter recently received by llie New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board from its general manager, Mr J. Fraser, who recently visited South America. the writer lays strong stress on the importance oj keepinjg up the quality of our frozen meat, pa dicularly lamb. The following very interesting comment, is contained in his letter:—

j “It is a better proposition for a j farmer to produce high-quality mutj of medium weight than sheep runj ning up to, say, 75 lbs. Tn years gone 1 by the difference on Smithfield (in I value between good-quality light sheep wa« a matter of farthings: today there is a difference of pence per lb, so insistent is Che demand for light sheep of good quality. To-day a 55 lb wether of prime quality would realise on Smithfield about Sid per lb, equal to 38 lid per head; whereas a heavy i wether weighing, say, 75 lbs would realise about Sid per lb. equal to 40s !7d per head. But. in addition to this, we must take into consideration the respective cost of placing these sheep on the Smithfield market, including killing, freezing, freight, ami London charges: On a 551 b wether at. say, -!Vtl, 12s 7d; on a 75 lb wether at, say, 2i|d, 17s 2d. On these figures, based on the Smithfield prices, a 551 b wether works out at about 2s lid more than a 75 lb one; beside this loss, the reputation of j our meat is not improved by sending ' along heavy mutton of indifferent J quality. The same applies to beef, j There is a demand for a limited sup- ! ply of beef, provided it is of prime ! quality, but what the London market j wants are bullocks weighing from, say. I 700 lbs to 800 lbs, of prime quality, | and not too old. I noticed whilst in I Argentina that buyers there are not , keen for heavy-weight cattle. American packers in South America watdh very closely the condition of both the London and the Continental market, and send along suitable beef to meet the requirements of each market. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has taken over the supervision of the grading of all meat exported from the Dominion, which has resulted in a more uniform standard of grading in the different districts of New Zealand, but the Board must have the co-opera-tion of all breeders to see that our quality is improved.”