MEAT EXPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 44, 30 January 1945, Page 2

MEAT EXPORT

THIS SEASON'S KILLINGS HEAVIER WEIGHTS 11EPOUTED

The export meat killing season opened on October 1, and the out. put had reached* sufficiently substantial proportions by December 30 to enable the N.Z. Meat Producers Board to give details to that date. The killings of all classes of stock show an advance compared with the corresponding period of the previous. season. Lamb killings 1 303 17f> carcases < represent an advance of 133 ? 7()8; the wether mutton total of 88 335 is 71 } 192 better ewes at 53, - 881 show an advance of 37 5(58 carcases and beef killings 49 ( 902 quarters, are 49 285 in excess of the •> previous season's output. Complete export figures lor pork arc not available. This season's buying schedule was

revised to encourage the production of heavier weight carcases and this is reflected in the average weights of killings, to date, the climatic conditions being also favourable. The average weight of ewes is 00.641b5. compared with 57.861bs in the preceding season—North Island 60.701bs (57.98;bs) —South Island 56.641bs (53.911b5). 5 The Meat Producers Board states that every additional pound of average weight on lamb carcases will represent an increase of 5000 tons, in the export total if it is maintained throughout the season. Reports from the Board's supervising graders provide information, regarding climatic conditions as they affect the production of meat. They reiate to the week ended January 13: — Weather conditions in Auckland district were not of the best a stir--3 5 plus of rain having been experienced. Killings at all works were at maximum. In the W r est Coast and Taranaki districts conditions were fine, and decidedly humid. Feed was. abundant but more sunshine needed to harden up the growth. Hot weather was reported from Hawke's Bay and Poverty Bay. There had been good rain in Hawke's Bay and Tokomaru Bay ? but. Poverty Bay had not shared in the rainfall and was badly off for feed. In Hawke's Bay, except for the hill country which was a little burnt up ? feed was plentiful. Pastures in the Wairarapa were stated to be good, but in the Manawatu they needed sunshine to harden up. The supply of lambs to the works had been up to full capacity. Canterbury weather was warm and generally dry. The report on Otago and Southland stated: "'Weather has improved considerably this week, some particularly nice days, being experienced—a welcome change after the cold and changeable conditions of the past few months."