Drop In Meat Production Figures For Last Season

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 59, 4 November 1949, Page 2

Drop In Meat Production Figures For Last Season

The final production figures for the season show a decline of 7,027 tons on last season’s production of meat for export, states the' New Zealand Meat Producers Board. The result was disappointing in view of the favourable fattening season experienced throughout the country. At no point throughout the season did this season’s kill equal that of last year. The disrupting factor was the disappointing kill of quarter beef, last year’s kill of 872,664 quarters dropping to 507,549 quarters. Overall beef killings showed a drop of 14,807 tons on last season’s figures. Lamb killings whilst not reaching last?jyear’s record were maintained at the excellent figure of 11,862,955 carcases, the third best season on record. The average weight of carcases—3s,.s4lbs—was a record just exceeding the previous best recorded in the 1946-47 season. Sheep killings were maintained at approximately the same level as that of the previous season. Pig killings after showing a pleasing increase last season once again dropped away by approximately 37,000 carcases. following table summarises the movement in production between the two seasons:— Increase Decrease N tons tons Lamb 6,221 Mutton 2,240 Beef Pig Meat Edible Offal 376 1,057 The prospects for the ensuing season appear favourable. Stock is in excellent condition following a mild winter and lambing percentages from all reports appear to be a shade higher than last year. The uncertain factor, once again, will be beef. Killings of quarter beer should not however drop any lower than those of last season.