CHILLED BEEF TRADE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 10 March 1934, Page 7

CHILLED BEEF TRADE

ANOTHER SHIPMENT THIS MONTH CONFIDENCE IN' FUTURE. YOUNG PRIME BEEF CATTLE. Messrs Thomas Borthwick and Sons will be making a shipment of chilled beef this month, according to a statement made to a “Dominion” representative by Mr. 33. G. Norman, the firm’s managing director. It is the intention of the firm to carry right ahead with the trade now, in View of the highly satisfactory results which attended the two experimental shipments made last year. The shipment will be made on the new motor vessel Port Chalmers, which has been specially fitted for the trade, and is now on its maiden voyage. The consignment will consist] of about 15,000 quarters, of which probably about 12.CKX) quarters will be from the Wairarapa. It is expected that the remainder will consist of beef from the Feilding district. The Port Chalmers will' sail finally from Wellington with the shipment about March 24. • CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE. It will be recalled that two successful experimental shipments of chilled beef were made by Messrs T. Borthwick and Sons last year, one on February 3 and the other on June 7. As a result of those shipments, both of which, were made on the Port Fairy, a considerable amount of technical and other valuable information was gathered, and it is now with the greatest of confidence in the future that the firm intends to proceed with the chilled beef trade. For the experimental shipments practically all of the beef was drawn from the Wairarapa, and the whole of the killing and the chilling process was carried out at the \\ aingawa works. The first shipment, which comprised 330 hindquarters and 270 forequarters, although not a commercial success, paved'the way to success for the second consignment consisting of 520 hindquarters: This was described m a London cablegram received in Mas- ' ierton. as “much the best trial shv* - ment ever made by Australia or New Zealand.” The consignment realised l’-d per lb more than frozen beef. It is felt that, provided the industry 1 is assured of success financially, the farmers will fulfil the necessary re- ; quirements so far as the quality of the ‘ beasts is concerned. The cablegram 1 received concerning the second shipment stated that although the dressing was very good for ‘New Zealand, it was not quite up to the Argentine standard. No doubt* with cxporicnee gained, however, and' bearing this| 1 factor in mind, there will be a vast 1 improvement in this direction in future consignments. 1

REGULATION OF TEMPERATURE.

The maintenance as nearly as possible of a constant temperature is one of the main problems in the sea carriage of chilled beef. On the occasion of the initial shipment last year special electrically-propelled fans were fitted to ensure perfect circulation of cold air. Gas chilling, the circulation of carbon dioxide in the hanging chambers, was introduced when the second shipment was forwarded in June.

Experiments in England and America have shown that carbon dioxide has the effect of killing fungus 1 spores and retarding the growth of mould. In fact, carbon dioxide is almost an ideal refrigerating agent. The condition of the gas-chilled 1 beef dispatched in June won unstinted praise from experts at Home.