Traditional beef breeds best—Mr Chisholm

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32703, 4 September 1971, Page 2

Traditional beef breeds best—Mr Chisholm

(New Zealand Frets Association? BLENHEIM, September 3. New Zealand has little to learn in beef production from the United States in the way of breeds used and the way they are managed, believes Mr M. M. Chisholm, supervising manager of the Land and Survey Department’s Molesworth Station.

Mr Chisholm has returned to New Zealand after a 10-week study tour of the beef-produc-ing areas of the United States and Canada, on a Churchill Memorial Trust award. Feedlot beef production, involving herds of up to 120,000,’ was impressive, but could not be an economic proposition in New Zealand with its pattern of grassland farming, 1 he said—and while there was at times much initial enthusiasm for the introduction and use of “exotic” beef breeds, research and application all turned up with the same answer, that the traditional breeds were the best for the job. Nor was there a place for artificial breeding in commercial herds, either in the United States or in New Zealand, he said. NOT THE HOUSEWIFE

Another point discovered by Mr Chisholm -was that the American housewife did not wield the big influence on what type of beef was marketed as some people were led to believe. “It is the advertising by the supermarkets that calls the tune to a large extent,’’ he said. "The American people are good judges of meat because they eat it so rare—just about raw.”

On marketing, the big auctions involving Up to 7000 head a day five days a week were very impressive, but he considered the New Zealand system just as fair and New Zealanders better judges of livestock weights, Mr Chisholm said. Much, too, was in the hands of the chain stores, many of which operated the feedlots and packing houses (freezing works) as well.

But the feedlots had brought another problem—pollution. People living nearby were protesting against fouled air, while the disposal of effluent from the big fattening and finishing houses was a real problem. While many of the feedlots were, in the com belts, the cost of grain feeding was rising. Farm equipment and machinery was also costing more—a harvesting machine which 10 years ago cost $2500 today cost up to $lO,OOO. Labour was another rising

cost. American ranchers were taking a closer look at stock yards and the use of dogs, “though in some places the traditional cowboy with his rope is still the only method used.” The American beef industry was showing faith in the future, Mr Chisholm said. There was a “case” for New Zealand meat, but the Americana were looking at Japan, whefe the affluent Japanese was prepared to pay $4 for a good steak.

“We have got an unfilled potential in the Pacific without going to the United States,” Mr Chisholm said. On New Zealand selling in the United States, he said: “Our chaps are too polite. We are told ’This is to be the quota,’ and we accept it “But the Australians, when told the same thing, tell them that they want more—and their insistence invariably gets them more,’’ Mr Chisholm said. •