N.Z. CHILLED BEEF

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 163, 28 July 1937, Page 13

N.Z. CHILLED BEEF

Trade to Britain Steadily Expanding FINISH TO CATTLE "It is very satisfaetory to note that our chilled beef trade continues to expand and is gaining popularity on account of the eating qualities of the meat," states the New Zealand Meat Board in its annual report. "There is still, however," the report continues, " considerable variation in the quality of the beef and also in the condition of shipments on arrival, indicating that there is further Toom for improvement. If the percentage of our cattle suitable for breeding high quality chillers could ,be increased this would be reflected in the quality of our chilled beef. We must recognise tbat our competitors are ever striving for better quality and improvement in their herds. The following figures of chilled beef exports from New Zealand show. the remarkable development which has taken place since the inception of this trade: — Season 1933/34, 19,576 qrs.; season 1934/35, 64,514 qrs.; -season 1935/36, 144,169 qrs. For 1936/37 season the quantity shipped to June 30 has reached 142,745 qrs. as coaiparod with 112,109 qrs. to the same date last season, an increase of 27 per cent., and it. is estimated that the exports for this season should finally approximate 200,000 qrs. „ ^ "It is essential that farmers should realise that beef from unfinished flabby cattle does not make the ideal chilled product. Furthermore, this class of beef does not stand up to the long transit as is shown by the laek of colour and bloom when ' compared with well finished beef, which has a protective covering of fat. It is thereforo imperative that all chiller cattle sent along to freezing works should be thoroughly finished ofi?. , "Our handicap in respeet to the distance from the Briti'sh market makes it exceedingly difficult to spread our landings throughout each month, and this is a matter which has engaged thc attention of the board for some time. l'n developing an export trade 'in chilled' beef it is essential that the product should, if possible, be continuously on th© market. Under our seasonal conditions most of our fat cattle are ready for slaughter in March, April and May, these being the peak months, sometimes extending into June and July. This results in a_ great deal of our chilled beef being" landed in the United . Kingdom during the hottest months, and it also comes into competition with the main supplies from Australia. It may be possible to improve this position in districts where conditions are favourable, in the direction of gpreading our shipments more evenly throughout the year. If this could be done it would not only be beneficial to our trade but would also be very helpful to the freezing works and shipping companies, when treating and handling the meat. "It has to be remembered that the chilled beef trade involves special handling at the freezing works, spe-cially-equipped wagons for transport to the ships, and specially-designed chambers on suitable vessels. These facilities have not yet becoxne ko cxtensivo that they can instantly adapt themselves to an unlimited quantity of chiller cattle requiring to be handled in a short period, especially having regard to the fact that only suitable vessels specially equipped with chilled chambers can load chilled beef. The question of adequate facilities to meet fully the requirements of this trade, having regard to future expansion, has for some time been engaging the attention of the boaTd who are in close touch with the freezing companies, shipping companies and the Eailway Department." .