BOBBY CALVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 734, 6 August 1929, Page 10

BOBBY CALVES

SLAUGHTER DEPLETING MEAT SUPPLIES? GOVERNMENT ACTION URGED If the wholesale slaughter of calves for export continues, there will be a shortage of store cattle suitable for grazing and conversion into beef for local consumption. This is the opinion of the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association, which has written to the Minister of Agriculture drawing his attention to the practice and to the problem which may arise out of it.

“The export busijness in calves,” writes the association.” was intended, at first, to deal only with calves of dairy strain unsuitable for beef, but the business has now developed to such an extent that calves of good beef strain are now being slaughtered in great numbers, indiscriminately. at one or two days old. “Members of the association are not in a position to judge the effect this wholesale slaughter will have on the Dominion as a whole, but they are convinced that, if this slaughter of young calves continues, there will be ail acute shortage of store cattle suitable for grazing and conversion into beef for local consumption, with the inevitable consequent serious ill effect upon the trade and consumers, in the form of extreme high prices. “The association recognises the great difficulties in the way of dealing with such a situation through Government action, but suggests that the Agriculture Department might, usefully, take action in advising and distributing information to those concerned, in regard to the very serious effects upon the stock business of this wholesale slaughter of young calves. ’