Future Meat Market

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 554, 5 January 1929, Page 23

Future Meat Market

new country hard to find

Company Chairman’s Views

During the past two years there has been a gradual recovery in the overseas market for frozen meat. Opening prices for the New Zealand season *bow an all-rouni advance on those at the close of last season. Many forecast that present prices cannot last. Many. again, quoting world-wido authorities in support, predict an era of prosperity for the meat producers, with prices on even higher levels. Speaking at the annual meeting of lie smithliold and Argentine Meat Company held in London recently, the chairman, Sir James Caird, said: ••To the reflective man it is a question to be pondered whether we shall not have to revise, in the near future, our present ideas of meat values. I feel myself that the time is not far distant when we shall look back with amazement at the prices now ruling.” Although we may discount this statement to a certain extent as coming from a man whose mind is overbalanced by the comparison of dividends and present costs of production, it is worthy of consideration. Other factors support the contention that there will at least be a good demand for meat products over the next few years. Certainly the world has still a long way to go before saturation point is reached. Up till within the last decade the United States of America supplied practically all her meat requirements from her own pastures. To-day, with rapidly increasing population, her nerds are falling off in numbers, and every year she has to draw greater quantities from overseas. In England, on the Continent and even in the Bast, with the improved standard of living there is a growing demand for meat, which cannot be fully satisfied without drawing on the countries of the Southern Hemisphere. What is true of U.S.A. is equally true of elsewhere. Continuing in his review of the meat position, Sir James Caird said: ‘‘Signs of American meat shortage are becoming increasingly evident. At present she bars Argentine frozen and

chilled meat, but she is taking considerable and increasing quantities of canned meat from there and the neighbouring countries. In 1925 she took 10,000,0001 b. weight of canned meat. To the end of September this year she has taken 40,000,0001 b. weight of canned meats, and has still three months’ supplies to lift. In 1926-27 America took from New Zealand 400 tons of

frozen meat. For the year ended September 30 she took 13,500 tons, principally beef. She also draws large supplies of meat from Canada. Prices of meat in the United States are steadily rising. In Chicago wholesale prices for sides of beef have risen from lid a lb. in April to over in September. Looking to difficulties of transport and feeding, prices are likely to rise still higher in the winter months. In Smithfield the average weekly price of chilled sides over the same period was underw6d a lb. “The population of the United States totals over 100,000,000, and is increasing at the rate of 2,000,000 per

annum, which emphasises her present need of further meat supplies. It becomes a question to be pondered over, whether it will not be necessary to revise in the near future present idea% of me&t values.” For those pessimists who predict over-production of beef in particular, and meat generally, Sir James Caird had an effective reply. “Country on which fat stock can be profitably raised is becoming more and more limited, as agriculture pushes the big grazier back,” he stated. “Thereby hangs the tale of the future. Large sums of money have been expended in fruitless expeditions looking for additional suitable stock fattening country. It is not to be found.” Yet, experience and statistics show clearly that, with the improved standard of living in the older countries of the world, there is a growing demand for meat. In this lies meat raisers’ hopes for the future.

of the week, rates showing no change compared with Sydney November figures. France was a particularly vigorous buyer of superfine Merinos, prices for offerings of that standard being decidedly buoyant. Japan and Germany were the outstanding bidders for the bulk of the wools forward. Yorkshire purchased good weights of the s taple, and appreciable orders were also about on Russian, Italian and Belgian account. America was a limited operator. The great bulk of the Merino fleece wools forward were readily saleable at firm values. Prices for all classes of skirtings were fully maintained. The only lines for which prices showed particular irregularity were Merino fleece parcels displaying broadness of fibre. Faulty wools at times did not command acceptable bids. Offerings of those classes were irregular in value in Sydney in November, and also at last week's Brisbane sales. Comebacks and crossbreds attracted very strong bidding at full late figures.

N.Z. FRIESIANS MAKING A NAME ELSEWHERE Mr. G. Richardson, of Kingston, Tasmania, who in June last year landed a consignment of Friesian heifers from New Zealand, has already achieved much success. Championships with the stock have been annexed at the leading shows in that State, and the high dairy quality of the females has been demonstrated. One of the cows, Rosevale Doreen Sylvia, has given up to 10 gallons of milk in 24 hours, and is the first animal of any breed in Tasmania to yield that quantity. Her dam has a record of 5721 b of butter-fat at four years old, and is a daughter of a famous sire, Bruce of Pleasant Valley (imp.), with five certificated daughters, the records of which average over 6631 b of butterfat a year. Another of Mr. Richardson's purchases produced 6111 b of butter-fat in her first 11 months’ milking, and was then yielding so well that she was expected to make a new 12 months’ record for Tasmania. Roseavle Inka Sylvia Flora, a heifer, has given 6291 b butter-fat in 365 days. She is the daughter of a son of old Burkeyje Sylvia Posch, which gave 9831 b of butterfat in a year’s test. Two other daughters by the same sire have given yields of 6121 b of butter-fat at four years old and 7011 b butter-fat at two years respectively. Another of Mr. Richardson’s Friesians to show high quality is Rosevale Alta Posch, which has given 6491 b of butter-fat in 365 days as a two-year-old. She is a granddaughter of Bruce of Pleasant Valley (imp.), through her sire Rosevale Korndyke Sylvia Posch, one of the most successful sons of old Burkeyje Sylvia Posch. Rosevale Korndyke Sylvia Posch is now at the head of the Road’s End Stud of Dr. S. V. Sewell, at Berwick, Victoria, and| the latest New Zealand lists show that he is the sire of 16 daughters in the Dominion test which have yearly records averaging over 6571 bof butter-fat. Only four of these had reached six years old when their tests started. Mr. Richardson has made a very satisfactory opening in Tasmanian herd test work.

WOOL MARKET FIRM CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA Those with wool to sell can certainly be congratulated that the market has so successfully negotiated the first half of the selling season considering the nervousness which was apparent two to three months ago, says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” The Sydney auctions closed for the Christmas recess on Thursday under generally excellent selling conditions. Well distributed competition was experienced over the four days’ sales