THE EXPORT OF MEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 13

THE EXPORT OF MEAT.

MARKETING IN LONDON. IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY. AUSTRALIAN INVESTIGATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Kecencd 5.5 piin.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 14. As a result of a day spent in an investigation oi Smithfield. market two Australian meat experts have prepared a re port which should be very useful to Australian end New Zealand producers. They found that Argentine cattle marketed were between 17 and 24 months younger and of better quality than Australian cattle, which although: often of high quality varied to such an extent as to keep down the average, and prices were usually a penny below the Argentine rates. They say the indications are that itwould not be payable to chill crops. It would be better to try hind-quarten;, but they question whether that would be more profitable than frozen meat, for .vhich there is a strong demand in the provinces. Assuming that chilled meat brought a penny a pound more it would mean £1,250,C00 on 500.000 head of cattle, but the extra cost of chilling, freight and insurance against losses would have to be deducted. They point out that high-class bred! beef does not bring more on the Australian market, the reason for which should be ascertainable by a general inquiry into the whole of the economics of the industry, including better feeding, seasonal influences, regularity of supplies and methods of transport. The report emphasises the popularity of smaller lambs, and also excessive heaviness of. mutton. There is need for the quick maturing of lamb produced by a Southdown ram and a Romnev ewe and for mutton from a Suffolk-Romney strain. Study is necessary in order to reduce the disparity in the quality of Australian and Canterbury lambs.