MEAT KILLINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1940, Page 9

MEAT KILLINGS

SUBSTANTIAL RISE THIS SEASON

MUTTON AND LAMB A RECORD. CURRENT SEASON'S RETURNS. The New Zealand Meal Producers' Board has issued the following particulars relating to killings for export during the current season:

Killings for export of mutton and lamb are likely to be a record this season. The figures of killings at all works for the season which commenced on October 1, 1939, show a substantial increase over the previous season up till May 11 of this year, and the improved output is likely to be maintained until the season ends.

Details made up to May 11 this season show that the total freight carcases of all classes of meat killed for export are 10,683,144 compared with the previous season's figure of 9,589,825 to May 15 (the nearest comparable date). This represents an increase in 601 b. freight carcases in the current season of over eleven per cent. Lambs killed this season total 9,453,704 (North Island 5,022,886, South Island 4,430,818) representing the very substantial increase over last season of 635,734. North Island killings account for approximately 600,000 of the increase.

Mutton: Killings of wethers to May 11 arc 1,202,696 (North Island 1,064,129, South Island 138,567) being a reduction for the current season to date of 175,000. Ewes totalling 1,705,295 (North Island 1,142,632, South Island 562,663 have been handled at the export works, and show an increase over the previous season of 600,000. mostly irom the North Island. Taking into account the reduced killings of wethers, the net increase in mutton production this season has been over 400.000 carcases.

Beef: Although chiller beef has not been exported in that form since the outbreak of war, the purchase arrangement with the United Kingdom Government enables chiller quality and price to be maintained, as it is important to preserve this valuable and increasing phase of meat production. Beef killings to May 11 total 372,567 quarters (North Island 369.190, South Island 3,377) compared with 306,436 quarters for the corresponding period of last season.

Pork: In the original war purchase agreement, the British Government stipulated that 75 per cent of the total weight of pork shipped should be in the lOllbs. to 1801bs. range, viz., baconer weights. However, in April the United Kingdom Ministry of Food agreed to remove this restriction on the percentage of porkers to baconers, though its existence for a substantial part of the season resulted in the porker killings to May 11 being only 74,000. compared with 329,000 in the corresponding period of last season. Farmers have carried their pigs to baconer weights, with the result that killings of this type are 115,000 ahead of those for the previous season, viz., 305,108 (North Island 294,302, South Island 10,806) compared with 189,612 in the 1938/39 season to the same date. Under these conditions the only effective method of comparison is that of relative weights, and on the b.asis of 601 b freight carcases, this season's export killings of pork have amounted to 805.331, which is a net decrease on the previous season of 46,050 freight caicases. The number of head killed this season to May 11, 379,355, compaied with the corresponding total for last season to May 15, porkers and baconers, represents a reduction in numbers of 26 per cent, but comparison on the weight basis reduces the disparity to 5 per’cent. Killings of other classes of meat this season to May 11 in 601 b. freight carcases, with the comparative figuies of last season in parentheses, are as follows: — Boneless beef: North Island, 498,409; South Island, 33,841: total, 532,250 (436,902). , T , , Boneless bobby veal: North Island, 52,492; South Island. 14.192; total, 66.684 (67,535). Sundries: North Island, 254,402; South Island, 96,066; total, 350.468 (309,946). When the killing season opened there was a heavy carry-over of meat in store, owing to the operation of the mutton quota in respect to imports into the United Kingdom. The restrictions were removed when war commenced enabling this meat to be exported. The survey of meat in store as at May 11 shows that despite the necessity of providing tonnage for the carry-over and also the improved volume of production during the current season, the position in regard to stocks on hand must be considered satisfactory.