THE WORLD'S MEAT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 16

THE WORLD'S MEAT

Decline in Consumption Checked in 1936 BEEF PRODUCTION RISES The decline in the total amount of meat entering world trade which had been in evidence since 1931 was hpparently checked in 1936, according to the latest report on meat, ;Just published by the Imperial Economic Committee. Beef exports were heavier than in 1935, mutton and lamb declined, and pig meat showed little change. World production and consumption of beef cannot yet be determined in tbspect of 1936, but probably exceeded the previous peak reached about 1925-26. The quantity entering international trade rose to the highest figure sinco 1931. Imports into the United Kingdom also increased, but the proportion of world shipments taken by the United Kingdom, which had increased from 73 per cent. in 1930 to 89 per cent. in 1935, declined very slightly last year, due to a revival in German imports. The share of Empire countries in the beef imports of tne United Kingdom increased from 10 per cent. in 1930 to 23 per cent. in 1936. The production of beef and veal in Great Britain increased by over 14 mil-, lion cwt. between 1930 and 1936, and in the latter year comprised just under one-half of total supplies, or about the same as in 1935, and a greater proportion than in any other recent year. The apparent consumption of beef per head in Great Britain, which had declined from 701b to 6.'lb between 1926 and 1932, has increased annually since, and returned to 701b in 1936. World exports of mutton and lamb were reduced further in 1936 to the smallest figure since 1929, and imports into the United Kingdom also declined,although still accounting for 95 per cent. of total world shipments. About 80 per cent. of exports of mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom in 1936 came from Empire countries, as against 64 per cent. in 1930, and the figures show the growing importance of lamb at the expense of mutton. Production in Great Britain was less than in any year since 1931, while the consumption per head of mutton and lamb, which had risen steadily for a number of years to a peak of nearly 331b in 1933, declined to under 301b last year. Pig Output in Britaic Up. The year 1936 witiAssed the reversal of a marked dewnward movement in pig-meat production, but present tendencies suggest that production in Europe in 1937-38 will decline, while in 1938 the United States will show a recovery from recent low levels. International trade in pig-meat is dominated by the movement of bacon and hams to the United Kingdom, which declined by some 5,000,000 cwt. between 1932 and 1936. Denmark supplies about half of all imports, but the share of Empire countries has grown from under, 5 per cent. in 1932 to 26 per cent. in 1936. About 80 per cent. of the imports of pork in 1936 were from Empirn countries. The output of pig-meat in the Utt'.*td Kingdom in 1936 was the largest ever recorded and accounted for over 50 per cent. of total supplies, compared with an average of 40 per cent. in the preceding five years. The apparent consumption of pig-meat, however, wat equal to 441b. per head, or the same a» ten years earlier, and 61b below tht peak reached in 1932, In discussing prices the report show» that the long downward trend in thn price of home-produced beef was reversed in 1936 and imported beef wat unchanged. All deseriptioas have advanced in 1937. Following a drastice decline up to 3932, prices of mutton and lamb recovered appreciably. Quotations were reduced in 1936, but hav« been at a higher level this year. Prices for both bacon and pork in the United Kingdom in 1936 were slightly higher than in 1935, and have advanced further in 1937.