N.Z. Meat Forcing Change In U.K.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 17

N.Z. Meat Forcing Change In U.K.

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

Zealand joints of meat (which British consumers prefer) on the British market was forcing breeders in Britain to adjust their practices to meet the market’s demand, says “The Times.” “It is not to be denied that in some quarters the change has been too long in coming and resistance to it has been a disadvantage for the industry and the Govem-

ment’s price support policy,” says the newspaper. "Many breeders have stubbornly refused to treat the inevitable path of adjustment from the war years, when heavy sheep were encouraged, and this created difficulties at the February price review negotiations, when the Government sought to introduce the price discriminations that were obviously needed. “The spur of course was the New Zealand breeders’ increasing hold on the British markets. In fact discrimination against heavy sheep has increased to a point that -any carcase weight in excess of 551 b is probably worth nothing to the butcher and only the value of the deficiency payment to the farmer. “Furthermore, emphasis on quality is likely to increase as adequate supplies of mutton and lamb are forthcoming from the expanding New Zealand flocks and British flocks that have regained their pre-war strength. “With New Zealand’s operating costs in putting lamb on the British market at about 20 per cent, lower than those of the home producers the Government guarantee payments rose steadily in recent years to a peak of 30 per cent, of farm receipts from sheep in 1959.”