CHILLED BEEF

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 103, 25 January 1933, Page 4

CHILLED BEEF

Experimental Shipment

SUCCESS ANTICIPATED Dominion Special Service. Mastertoii, Jan. 24. “XVe feel absolutely coutident that the shipment is going to be a success,” declared Mr. IJ.1 J . Borthwick, a director ot Thus. Borthwick and Sons, Ltd., interviewed by “The Dominion” to-day regarding the experimental shipment of ebilleu beef which hist firm is sending Home by the Bort Fairy, leaving Wellington on February 3. Mr. Borthwick added that it would probably be necessary to make several further exiwrimenlal shipments before the proriosition was proved commercially sound. The killing of the beef, which is drawn from the best herds in the AXairarapa, is now proceeding at Waiugawa 1 reezmg Works. A selection of the best sao to 600 hindquarters will be made, and these with a few forequarters to ensure good storage, will comprise the experimental shipment. , . c A great deal hinged on the rate ot freight charged by the shipping companies, said Mr. Borthwick. Cliilled beef must bo hung on rails, not stacked like the frozen product, so that stowage was about 20 cubic feet to the ton more than for frozen beef. He was optimistic, however, of a reasonable basis for freighting charges being arranged. The freight for shipping chilled beef from Australia to the United Kingdom was at. present 1 5-8 d pcr_.lb., and from Argentine to the United Kingdom, 5-B<l. The freight from New Zealand would not, he thought, exceed the Australian rates. The difference in the prices obtained for chilled and frozen beef was considerable. For instance, on January 14, New Zealand ox hinds on Smithfielu were quoted at3Jd., while Argentine chilled hinds were quoted.at 51<l. A. proportion of this difference would, of course be eaten up in increased charges, observed Mr. Borthwick, but the returns' should still be satisfactory. Beef Not Available.

To establish a chilled beef industry it would be necessary to have regular shipments from the Dominion.. At present there was not the beef available in New Zealand for steady export, so that when it hnd proved possible to successfully ship chilled beef the next move would be. to get the farmers to produce to the right type of beef. Mr. Borthwick said that so far as he knew, farmers in this country had never fed their beef, using, cattie simply to assist with their sheep farming. but if cliilled beef was to be exported, it would be necessary to feed, the cattle. What was required . were Jtowl prime bullocks, about 6501 b. to 7501 b., evenly covered. Special Facilities Needed. The provision of facilities for carrying on the industry was going to be somewhat expensive, said Mr. Borthwick. It. would be necessary to instal special equipment at all worlts handling the beef, provide special railway vans and secure special storage on the refrigerating ships. The important point with chilled beef, he said, was temperature. A temperature of about 33 degrees Fahrenheit must be maintained. Any variation resulted m mould. To secure this) evenness of temperature it was necessary to have cold air circulating in the chambers, and this was done by means of a forced draugut. No freezing works in New Zealand at present had facilitiesi for bundling chilled beef in large quantities, but his.firm hud beef chillers installed at Wa.ingawir whicn were used for the experimental shipment, special arrangements being made for air Circulation. ■- -