MEAT EXPORT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 8 November 1916, Page 6

MEAT EXPORT TRADE

SEASON'S PROSPECTS

OUTPUT OF TEN MILLIONS

A rough estimate of tho amount which Isew Zealand will receive lor meat sold'to tho Imperial Government in tho export season just opening is ten millions sterling. On last year's figures and on,the present remarkably good pastoral prospects it appears to be safe to assume that New Zealand will export 7,000,000 freight carcasses

( a freight carcass being tiOlb. o£ meat of any class) during the coming season, and the value of this meat will be approximately £10,000,000. In. spite of tho very heavy export of the last two seasoils, and very severe drought in the South Island, the sheep returns show that New Zealand flocks were only some 35,000 less on April 30 last than at that date last year, and some 10,000 less than in the year .1914. This year tho North Island lambing has been very fair, about as good as last-year, and in the South Island, although there will be bad districts,' it is expected that tho average will he Maintained. The figures showing the stock slaughtered for export during tho past , three years are as follow:— . Sheep. - Lambs. 1913-14 .... 3,036,438 4,221,626 1914-15 .... 3,035,351 4,356,151 / 1915-16 .... 3,147,915 3,969,446 The reduction the number of lambs killed in "1915-16 is attributed to the lack of rain in Canterbury and North Otago. The numbers of cattle slaughtered for export in the same three years were:— Bullocks and lieifers. Cows. Bulls. Total. 1913-14 ... 03,378 3G,3Gi 9,937 109,679 191-1-15 ... 113,414 58,247 11,459 182,120 1915-16 ... 104,497 94,314 12,520 211,331 A noticeable feature of last season's operations was tho slaughtering of an unprecedented number of cows, and young unfinished cattle, many of them heifers. The effect of this will not he apparent this year, perhaps, hut if this slaughtering of female stock continues there , must be a short-ago of breeding cattlo in the future, and a reduction of tho output ofhoef. Unfortunately no comparison' of the strength of the Dominion's herds can be made with that of last year, because although tho figure's for this year are ! available, similar figures have not been taken out since 1911. It is possible, therefore,_ that- there may he, a real shortage in the cattle herds this year owing to the heavy slaughtering of tho past two season's, and for this reason it is possible that there may ho a re3uced beef export this season. All t'ho beef, it should be noted, goes to tho Army except'the hull beef. This bull beef goes on to the market in England. and is mostly bought for tho north country cities, a great quantity going to Glasgow. It is- used largely iii the production of what butchers call "small goods."