Meat Export Output Still Lagging

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 15

Meat Export Output Still Lagging

New Zealand’s recent production of meat for export has continued at a level which has partly compensated for greatly reduced killing earlier in the season.

Export lamb production \ carcases and cuts) for the seven months from October 1, 1965, to April 30 this year was equivalent to about 16,892,000 lambs. This compared with about 17,896,000 lambs for the same period in 1964/65. The latest total shows a decline of 1,094,000 lambs, or about 6.1 per cent. , Because of the heavier average weight of lambs this year, the reduction in total tonnage is less marked. Total tonnage for lamb in the seven months of 1965/66 was 236,778 tons. This compares with 240,473 tons, a decrease of 3695 tons or 1.5 per cent. Ewe mutton production continues to be well down. The

tonnage produced in the seven months was 52,100 tons as compared with 75,052 tons for the corresponding period previouslv. This was a decrease of 22,952 tons, or 30.6 per cent. Total beef and veal produced for export amounted to 54,939 tons in the seven months period. This compares with 62,383 tons, or a reduction of 7444 tons, which is 11.9 per cent lower. Total weight of export meat and offal produced in the seven months of the current season was 380,627 tons. The figure for the same months of last year was 415,127 tons. This was a reduction of 34,500 tons, or 8.3 per cent