EXPORT MEAT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 51, 22 February 1944, Page 7

EXPORT MEAT

LATEST PRODUCTION FIGURES Killings of meat for export com tinue to show a decline' compared with the previous season. The retport of the N.Z. Meat Producers Board covering the period from the opening of the season, till 29t.h January, discloses that the total killings of lambs, 4,025,703, Avere fewer than, those in the corresponding period. of last season to. the extent of 482,998., the. decline being 289,519 in the North Island and 193,479 in the South Island. However, the heavy drop in this season's production shown a fortnight ago has been recovered to the extent of 231,583 carcases. Details of lamb and mutton killings to 29th January, with the figures for the corresponding period of last season are as follows:— North Island Lamb 2,870,797 (3,1C0,316) Wethers 68,983 ( 95,128) Ewes 107,124 ( 299,007) South Ijsland! Lamb 1,154,906 (1,348,385) Wethers 2„394 ( 1,096) Ewes 15,968 ( 20.259) The decline in wether killings this season to same date is 24,847 carcases, and in ewes 196,774 carcases. Beef handled at the export works totalled 10858 quarters (85,355); boneless beef (freight carcases) 80,r 355 i (274,125) and bobby veal 58,609 (72,042) freight carcases. Supervising graders' report to 9th February indicate improvement in the feed position in some districts although this is. not the case in the Auckland area, where feed was still very short, further rain would also be welcomed in Taranaki and West Coast districts, where the prospects of autumn feed are classed as 'fair." Pastures were reported to be drying off rather quickly in the Wairarapa, and particularly hi the Manawatu.