QUEENSLAND MEAT EXPORTS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15922, 7 May 1912, Page 8

QUEENSLAND MEAT EXPORTS

' (" Dalgety's Review.")

With tlie splendid rains that Queensland has recently experienced, and the indications that the droughty conditions that seemed to threaten large areas of country have disappeared, thoro appears to be every prospect thTit for some months to come roost of the sheep and cattle runs will be well covered with grass,, and that another favourable pastoral season will occur. This means much to tho natural increase of tho flocks and herds, and to the : output of wool, the main staple product of the pastoral industries; but' it may also have considerable effect ; upon the export meat trade which is now much discussed, not only to increase the supplies shipped to the English market, but to enable our exporters to avail themselves of the openings now being made in other European countries\ and in the East.

But the possible increase of the quantity of beef and mutton raised for export in another good season will not be all that .will be necessary to create permanent prosperity to the meat trade, or to enable the Queensland stockowners to successfully compete with the Argentine, tho powerful rival of Australia in the field. From the latest returns quoted, in 1911, 2,162,000 quarters of chilled beef and 1,575,000 Quarters of frozen beef, equal to about ,000,000 head of cattle, were exported from the Argentine, when from the whole of Australia only 550,000 quarters of beef were shipped, representing about 140,000 head of cattle. It is etated, too, by thfcse who profess to have a knowledge of the opinions prevalent in the London market, that there is much need for improvement in the quality of the frozen beef sent from Queensland and Australia generally; that while the Argentine stockowners have improved their breeds and- are supplying high-class meat, the meat from Queensland iis often of inferior quality, "and fetches only secondary prices'; also that much of the mutton freouently takes a low place in the trade; that old, scraggy carcases are found among tho sheen exported; that the frozen lambs are unequal in size and plumpness, and often show carelessness, in breeding. Of course the.«" opinions may onlv be the result of too careless generalisations, and there are doubtless many shipments that would not deserve such adverse criticisms. Something, however, ought to be done, especially as a propitious season is probable, to givo a better standing to the export meat trade in the home market. It seems obvious that thero should be the introduction of more stud bulls to improve the beef herds, that more care betaken in culling the sheep for the meat works, and in breeding and fattening tho lambs. Quality always tells, and a good reputation for *any product is conducive to high prices' and heavy sales. Better arrangements have been made in England for cold storage. At tho Victoria and West India Dooks tho accommodation is sufficient now for about 700,000 carcases, and there is a supplementary storage building, close to the West Smithfiekl market, capable of holding many more, though it is said that the cold storage is controlled too much by the American companies, yet for the metropolitan markets there is probably ample accommodation for the shipments that arrive from all parts. As a rulei the meat is well handled and more regular and quicker means are provided for conveying and- distributing it. The inspectors are generally intelligent and capable men, and greater facilities are given for disposing of the men.t at current rates; all of which suggests that more should be done at the Australian end, that as much as possible should be done by the stockowners, meat works companies and shippers to oneourago and promote success for the trade.

The appointment of a Commonwealth Inspection Department may do much in preventing the export of bad and unfit carcases, but it is in the rearing of stock and its selection for the killing, freezing or chilling operations, as well as in the methods of handling and shipping it, that probably some improvement can be made. With the prospect of increase of stock now before Queensland, and the larger operators for trade now appearing, stockowners will, doubtless, bestir themselves to increase the value of their breeds for .the purpose, and the exporters be more fully on thfll alert to see that the most fitting products are placed on the market. Meat, as well as wool,'is a large item in the pastoralists' returns, and it is evident that it can now bo much increased.