GRADING OF MEAT.

Northern Advocate, 5 August 1924, Page 3

GRADING OF MEAT.

PRIZES FOR lIIGH-QUALITY

LAMBS.

! "The reputation of our meat, in l Great Britain is one of the greatest as- : sets our Dominion possesses," states : the New Zealand Meat Producers' [ Board in its second annual report. "There is undoubtedly a market for every class of moat we can produce," continues the report, "but- the more prime quality meat we can ship the greater will be the permanent asset we thereby create in the enhanced reputation of the Dominion's meat, particularly lamb and mutton. The board has appointed fully qualified supervising graders who periodically visit each works to see that the grading is kept, up to the required standard Und that no meat, particularly thin or cr.iafialc! lambs, is shipped which might bring the reputation of our lamb trad<? into ill-repute. These supervisors in the course of their duties this season have rejected for shipment a great number 'of poor quality lambs at different freezing works, and this has had the desired effect of greater care being exercised in the drafting. In the ; interests of our trade apart from the economic loss to the Dominion, it is j imperative that these poor qualify | lambs should not be allowed to leave our shores, and the board has issued instructions to each supervising grader i to exercise the utmost vigilance to see that the instructions of the board are carried out. The graders have a very difficult job with some lines of unfinished or badly bred lambs which are sent along. Many of these lambs are just above second quality grade, but as prime lambs their quality has nothing to commend them to buyers. It is incumbent on every fanner in the Dominion to endeavour to breed good ' quality lambs and to finish them off thoroughly before sending them along to the freezing works. Many of the Patagonian lambs now appearing on j S:;)ithi'ield show a big improvement in ! quality and breeding 011 earlier ship- | meats, and this shows what a danger- j oiis rival we have in Patagonia, where, j in parts near Punta Arenas, the country is not unlike our own. It is pleasing to note the improvement that is taking place in breeding of lambs in many districts in the Dominion, particularly in the North Island where the Down cross lambs have now T become firmly established, and hav<? made a reputation for themselves on the Smithfield market, and are greatly sought after. Unfortunately the high quality of our lambs suffered this season owing to the exceptionally dry conditions, experienced right throughout the country. which is quite unusual for this Dominion, and is also responsible for a largo number of second-class lambs sent along to the freezing works. In. order to enwiuragc the breeding of high-quality lambs-the board intend* to offer prizes at the Royal Agricultural Society's show for the best pens of lambs suitable for export.