“BOBBY” VEAL TRADE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 12

“BOBBY” VEAL TRADE

IMPROVING THE QUALITY REVISED REGULATIONS Within little more than a month a new dairying season will have commenced. With it will come a revival of the "bobby” veal trade. It is anticipated that a further increase in this class of business for export will be registered this year. It is interesting, therefore, at this juncture, to review the revised regulations and instructions to inspectors recently published by the Department of Agriculture. An attempt is to be made appar* ently to improve the quality of the meat shipped under this heading and bring it nearer to the standard of the meat allowed to be distributed on the New’ Zealand market. Last year the regulations stipulated that the calves had to be at least three days old before passing over the killing floor. The new regulations fix the minimum age at 5 days. Various tests are recommended for assessing the age of the animals. In the post mortem examination the regulations provide that the carcase be condemned if it does not appear healthy in ail respects, and if the flesh is flabby, tears easily, and can be perforated fcj the fingers. The contents of the stomach will also be taken into account, and calves that have not been fed, even if the required age, are recommended for rejection. Other instructions in regard to cleanliness and the elimination of unnecessary cruelty are included. The wording of the export certificate which will be required to accompany this boneless veal and be contained on a tag attached to each package will be as follows: "This veal is derived from calves which on ante-mortem and post-mor-tem inspection, were found to be mature properly nourished, and free from disease, and not less than five days old.” It -will be seen that if the instructions are carried out to the letter, the trade will lose much of its attraction to the average dairyman, especially if there is to be only a small margin between the actual skin price and the price obtainable for the live calf after keeping it five days. On the other hand the regulations certainly aim at sending a better grade of meat abroad.