Scientists Assist Meat Rationing

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 64, 18 March 1944, Page 8

Scientists Assist Meat Rationing

A five-months’ intensive investigation into the nutritive character of all the maDy grades of New Zealand export quality lamb and mutton was made prior to the recent introduction into the Dominion of the meatrationing scheme. The investigation work, conducted jointly by the Massey and Lincoln Agricultural Colleges in 1942, was carried out specifically to assist the British Ministry of Food in its food rationing problems. It is on the meat-rationing plan subsequently I formulated in Britain that the New Zealand scheme lias been stated to be ' based. [ A group of experts, w T ho with their | assistants numbered about 40, worked |on the gathering of data practically .night and day for the five months. Twelve grades of lamb, J2 of ewe mutton and 12 of wether mutton, with j from five to ten carcases in each grade, were dealt with in that hectic period of work. The experts were asked to provide accurate data upon the make-up of tho carcase and its different joints in terms of the amount of bone, muscle and fat tissue; upon tho chemical composition of tho edible tissues; and upon the calorific and protein yield. North and South Island carcases, selected at random from graded lots ! which had been in store for at least three months, were handled separately. The investigation, which brought to light many interesting points concerning the relative values of New Zealand meats, was carried out by the two 1 agricultural colleges with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.