THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17466, 28 July 1928, Page 11

THE MEAT INDUSTRY.

OPERATIONS REVIEWED PRODUCE BOARD REPORT. A SATISFACTORY SEASON. The New Zealand Meat Producers' Board has issued its sixth annual report, which will be submitted to the annual meeting to be held at Wellington on Thursday, August 30, from which we make the following excerpts:— Livestock of the Dominion. The interim sheep returns as at April 30, 1928, show the total number of sheep in the Dominion at that date as 27,001,236. This establishes a record, and is an increase of 1,352,i 220 over the previous year. It is pleasing to record a further increase in the number of breeding ewes, the latest figures ( as at April 30, 1927), showing an increase over the previous ' year of 883,478. The last interim lambing returns show an increase of 999,057 lambs. The growing Use of phosphatic top-dres-sing is, no doubt, an important factor contributing to this marked increase. It is gratifying to note that the latest returns (as at January 31, 1928) show a further increase in respect to the number of pigs, the increase over the previous year being 47,731. The interim returns show 3,202,724 cattle at January 31, as against 3,257,729 for the -previous year. Survey of the Season. It is pleasing to review such a season as this, having in view the substantial advances in the values obtained for our meat, and not only has there been an increase in the prices obtained, but when the season finally closes, our export figures for meat will show a considerable advance over recent years and may constitute a record in the weight of frozen meat treated for export. Up to June 30 this year we have killed 475,295 lambs more than up to the same date in the previous year. Not only has there been an increase in the prices obtained for our meat, but there has also been a substantial advance in the values received for our wool, hides, and pelts. The export of wool from this Dominion for the twelve months ended March 31, 1928, amounted to 723,717 bales, valued' at £16,691,385, as compared with 028,355 bales, valued at £11,915,781, for the previous twelve months. In respect of the wool sold in the Dominion during the season just ended the average price, over the .whole Dominion worked out at 16.8'Jd per lb., or £24 5s per bale. The averages for the previous season were 12.6<51d per lb., or £lß'3s Id per bale —so that the increase this season amounts to just on per lb., or £6 Is lid per bale. it is very interesting to look at the annual value of the sheep and cattle industry, as measured by the export statistics for the 'twelve months ended March 31, 1928, as follows: Frozen meat, £10,148,312; wool, £16,691,385; hides and skins, £2,087,541; Other by-products (tallow, etc), ''£1,657,959; total value of industry for 12 months ended March 31, 1928, £31,185,197. The climatic conditions in most parts of the Dominion have been fairly satisfactory for the fattening of stock, although in the early part of the year the continued dry spell in the Auckland and West Coast districts of the North Island gave farmers much concern. The number of cattle killed for export during the past six years is:— Season, 1922/23, 125,083 head; 1923/ 24, 80,707; 1924/25, 114,037; 1925/ 20, 53,898; 1920/27, 40,083; 1927/28 (to 30/0/28), 87,839.

For some years (he unsatisfactory condition of our cattle industry has given the Board much concern, and it is particularly pleasing to note the increase in the shipments of frozen beef this season, and also the increased values paid for cattle. There have been good inquires for our frozen beef from New York and also from Montreal. Considerable quantities have been shipped to these and other ports, and it is satisfactory to'note that the markets for our frozen beef arc being extended. There has also been a good demand for our beef for Army and Navy orders in Great Britain, which, combined with the demand from New York, Montreal, etc., and the increased value of hides, has raised the values for fat cattle throughout the Dominion. The preference given to Dominion beef for large contracts for the British Army and Navy is invaluable to our beef industry, and the consideration given by the Imperial Authorities in this direction should be appreciated by the cattle raisers. It may also be mentioned that the settlement of the disagreement between the South American beef shippers has been 'a factor in the improvement in the prices realised for frozen beef, and has indirectly helped the values of other meats.

In connection with the export of meal from South America to the British market, the increase in the lamb shipments from this quarter should be noted, and the Board would again stress the necessity of endeavouring in every way possible to keep up the quality of our lambs to meet this competition. For the calendar year 1927 Great Britain imported from all sources nearly ten and a quarter million lambs. In addition to this record importation, the home-killed supplies were also particularly heavy. This large increase in Britain's consumption of lamb is an important and interesting fact to record, as 'the quantity imported during 1927 was nearly one and a half millions greater than the previous year, and easily constituted a record, as the number of lambs landed in Great Britain in any previous year had never even reached the nine million mark. It is also interesting to compare these large landings with the pre-war shipments of lamb to Great Britain, which were generally in the neighbourhood of five and a half millions. Despite these record supplies in 1927, the current year (1928) started off with a comparatively small carryover of lamb stocks in the stores in Great Britain, and it is pleasing to record that a belter level of prices has been reached this season, and that, up to date, the 'consumption has been satisfactory. Trade in Pork. It is satisfactory to note the substantial increase in the export of pork from the Dominion to the United Kingdom this season. From October 1, 1927, to June 30, 1928, we have killed for export 118,556 porkers and 27,485 baconers, as against 50,802 porkers and 35,424 baconers killed to the same date in the previous year. It will be

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noted that -we arc now exporting considerably more porkers than baconers. The Board's London Office has been for some lime endeavouring to get a wider distribution for these porkers through the Smithfleld Market by advertising to the trade to help in this direction. In support of the Government in its efforts to help the export of pork, the Board, in its shipping freight contracts, has always recognised that this was an export industry that must be helped, and since its inception has specially arranged with the shipping companies for a low shipping freight rate on pork, so that today, the rate on pork is reduced to about half of what it was in 1922, and the saving on a 1301 b pig would amount to 9s 3d., which is equal 1,0 over three-farthings per lb. Tlic.se figures speak for themselves, and the special concession made in regard to the shipping freight rates on pork may be looked upon as practically a subsidy obtained by the Board to encourage this industry. In the direction of helping in the marketing of porkers exported to the United Kingdom, and in accordance with the wishes of the Trade, the Board decided to institute grade weights for porkers exported tins season. It is very pleasing to note that Smithfleld Market has such a high opinion of our pork, the quality of which is considered superior to the pork exported from othe'r parts of the world. / Freezing and Storage.

With a view to improving the appearance of our frozen meat, particularly the bloom, the Board has for some time conducted experiments at different freezing works throughout the Dominion, the results of which have been circulated to the various freezing companies. The results of these experiments and investigations were placed before a conference of engineers from the different freezing works, and it is pleasing to note that .there has been a decided improvement in the colour and bloom of our lambs. This has been very favouraby commented on at the other end.