NEW ZEALAND MEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND MEAT

INCREASED EXPORTS SHEEPOWNERS GRATIFIED. MAINTENANCE EXPECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Gratification was expressed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation yesterday at the large increase in the volume of meat produced during the season that has just closed having been achieved without any decrease in the numbers of breeding ewes in the Dominion, and it was generally agreed that every effort should continue to be made to increase the volume, it being considered essential that at least as much should be produced next season as this. Approximately 300,000 tons of meat was taken by Britain from the recent season’s kill. If that total could be maintained in the approaching season, it was stated, any additional weight of production might be of the greatest value should supplies to Britain from other sources be diminished by the war. It was generally considered that it would be better to have a surplus above requirements rather than an insufficient amount at the end of next season.

The annual report stated that it was expected that the season s killings would show an increase of more than 700.000 lamb carcases, with an increase in weight of half a pound a carcase throughout the total kill over average weights of last year. That increase m weights represented more than 156.000 additional carcases at 33.51 b, as compared with last season’s weight values a head, representing a total of roughly 157,000 tons, compared with slightly over 143,000 tons last season. Wethers killed would show a decrease of roughly 145,000 carcases, equalling slightly more than 34,000 tons killed last season. Ewes, however, showed a substantial increase in killings as compared with last year, more than 750,000 541 b carcases having been killed in excess of last season's total. The tonnage expected this year would be approximately 45.000, as against slightly more than 27,000 tons for last season. The increase in killings for all meat was equal to roughly 52,400 tons, and the output of lamb, wethers and ewes this season. 234,000 tons, exceeded last season's total by approximately 30,000 tons, a record of which producers generally, and sheep-farmers in particular. had every reason to be proud. The president, Mr H. D. Acland, said the best means of increasing the volume of meat exports was to increase the weights of the carcases rather than the number of carcases. Provided seasonal conditions would allow, it would appear that the best policy would be to do the utmost to provide supplementary feed to ensure that the output for export would show a sufficient increase in weight to justify the additional expense. An increase of 31b a carcase of lamb on this season s figures would represent approximately 31.000.0001 b of lamb, which expressed in carcases on this years basis would total roughly 1.000,000 in excess of this season’s kill, and more than 14,000 tons of additional lamb for export. Mr Acland stressed the need for carefully watching the position of capital stocks.