Livestock manager retires

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 16

Livestock manager retires

A career for 46 years in the livestock buying side of, the freezing industry comes to an end this month when Mr George Steel retires from Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating, Ltd. Mr Steel has been livestock superintendent for Wak taki N.Z.R. for one year after 13 years as livestock manager, for N.Z.R and then for the merged Waitaki N.Z.R. after 1975. in a business where reputation is vital for successful operation, Mr Steel has one of the highest in the New Zealand meat industry. In an interview before his retirement at the end of this month, Mr Steel said he had always been conscious of the needs and difficulties of farmers. “In all seasons, economic conditions and market situations I have endeavoured to serve the farmers to the best of my ability,” he said. Mr Steel summarised his responsibilities as the livestock manager for New Zealand's. largest meat company by saying that it was his. job to keep the nine freezing works going as long as possible and at optimum throughput to the best advantage of the company and the farmers. Waitaki N.Z.R. employs over 80 stock buyers who work in their districts under the direct control of the T manager of the works nearest them. The main role of the buyers is drafting stock to be sold on schedule and in this activity Mr Steel believes they are of great benefit to farmers.

This procurement role is likely to continue unchanged in the future, despite expected changes in the processing side of the freezing industry. Mr Steel said stock buyers should always only offer advice to farmers on the sale, of stock, as freezing companies do not have economic control over the farmer’s stock. “We can only ever advise on when to hold and when to sell, and the final decision must be up to the farmer,” he said. Mr Steel joined the Islington works staff as a clerk in

1936 and then became a cadet shepherd. He then became a cadet stock buyer on Banks Peninsula in 1939. He was overseas from 1940 to 1945, serving with the artillery in the 4th New Zealand Field Regiment in Egypt, the 17th New Zealand Field Regiment in the Solomon Islands and the 7th New Zealand Anti-tank Regiment in Northern Italy.

He returned to N.Z. Refrigerating after the war and was based at Cheviot from 1947 to 1950, Akaroa 1950 to 1955, and Darfield 1955 to 1968. He also bought at the Addington Sale Yards for 15 years.

Mr Steel used to draft upwards of 150,000 head a year during his time at Darfield and he also established and ran his own 200 acre farm at Kirwee during this period. He said that stock buying had changed considerably during his period in the industry. Some 30 to 40 years ago lambs were drafted less frequently and sent to the works averaging 18 to 19 kilograms, compared with 13 to 14 kilograms today. They were usually driven to the nearest rail head for transport to the works and drafters had to be prepared to put in very long days. "The specifications are much greater now than they

were when I started in the industry," he said. “Stock could go straight from the truck or the train to slaughter, which certainly cannot happen now. "The stock buyers have a most difficult job to satisfy the Meat Producers’ Board requirements for grading,” he said. Mr Steel will retire to his 35 acre property at Lansdowne Valley, near. Christchurch. He has been succeeded as livestock manager by Mr John Mills.