MEAT PRODUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 67, 26 April 1944, Page 2

MEAT PRODUCTION

FEED POSITION GOOD

The. report of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board on export killings tills season to April 1. shows that the decline compared with last season is not being recovered, but it should be po'ntcd out that the conditions this season have not been so favourable, to early production. The. ligures therefore are not strictly comparable. Satisfactory feed throughout the Dominion should be reflected in some improvement in killings and weights before the end of the season. Total killings for the season to April 1, with particulars for the corresponding period of last season in ■ parentheses, are: Lambs 7.225,170 (8,377,289); wethers 341,861 (398470); ewes 1,292, 183 (1,333,184). North Island Lamb - 4,520 016 (4,928.885) Wethers 318,382 ( 374,604) Ewes 1,018 229 (1,017,483) Beef (quarters) 97,593 (243.571); boneless beef (frt. carcases) 264,501 (532,194); bobby veal (freight carcases) 61,529 (74,672) . The Dominion average for wethers to April 1 is 56.071bs (55.621b5) —North Island 56.591bs (56.081b5); South Island 49.031bs (48.301b5). Ewes have shown an average weight of 53.391bs (55.751bs) —North Island 53.441bs (56.4,81b5); South Island 53.21 ibs (53.371b5). Reports from the. Board's Supervising Graders show that there is an ample growth of feed 'in all parts of the Dominion. In North Auckland there is an excess, and throughout Auckland district, growth was continuing when the report were made. West Coast and Taranaki districts had experienced mild weather with some rain, the conditions for pasture being ideal. In Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay, where according to the previous report the heavy rainfall had not been conducive to good quality feed, ample sunshine has had a hardening effect, and growth is good. It was reported from Manawatu that pastures were improving, and that if frosts hold otT, the feed position for the winter will be much better than was expected a short time ago. Pastures were reported to be good in the Wairarapa. Canterbury weather conditions were warm and moist, w'ith ample growth. There was unsettled weather in Otag'o and Southland, and although feed conditions were fairly good in all districts, a spell of fine weather would be welcome, to harden the growth, which was slightly soft.