GRADING OF MEAT

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25517, 10 June 1948, Page 8

GRADING OF MEAT

EFFECT ON CITY ABATTOIR

The manager of the Christchurch CityCouncil’s abattoir, Walter Collinson Carr, giving evidence on behalf of stock and station agents, said he considered that if heads were left on stock at the abattoirs, there would be a higher proportion of ewes -graded as first grade. A number of four and six-tooth ewes were graded as second grade, and would be passed as first grade if their age was discernible.

For the year ended March 31, 1944, 48,087 ewes and 39,553 wethers had been killed at the abattoirs. At the same time in 1948, 15,385 ewes and 79,142 wethers had been killed. “In my opinion,” said Mr Carr, "the reason for the alteration is simply that the public have become redstripe conscious and demand first grade meat. As a result, farmers do not now fatten cows and ewes as they used to because they are aware of the facts of grading and the probability that they will be graded second grade and therefore fetch a much lower return for the trouble and expense of fattening. To my mind a properly fattened ewe, although it has had two lambs or more, can be just as good meat as a wether or a younger ewe. Mr Tennent: Under the Grading Act you, as manager, are required to see that heads are not removed. You are actually breaking the law in not doing so?.—Yes. In Christchurch then, graders are at a disability in that heads are not left on.— That is the position.

Graders have no difficulty in picking maiden ewes, but it is difficult with four and six-toothed ewes. The Christchurch public is therefore getting some firstgrade meat for second-grade prices, and butchers are also getting some advantage. —Butchers have to buy according to the stripe. Then there are disabilities in grading in Christchurch, and the public ana butchers are getting some advantage from it.—The meat could be graded on quality. Could you pick hoggets on quality?—l could pick the quality but not the age. But you do agree that red stripe meat leaving the abattoirs is better than blue stripe?—Definitely.