MEAT INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 7

MEAT INDUSTRY.

EXPERIMENTS BY THE BOARD. FREEZING AND TRANSPORT. NEW SURVEY AT BOTH ENDS. Experiments in the freezing, storing and transport of meat are mentioned in the seventh annual report of the Noyv Zealand Meat Producers' Board as matters which aro receiving very closo attention. " Somo tiino ago tho board convened a conference of refrigorating engineers from tho various freezing companies to discuss matters applying to refrigeration and the handling of frozen moat," the .report states. " The success of this conference prompted tho board to arrange another meeting last October, when the results of various tests carried out by the board were placed before tho engineers. Owing to the nature of thoir work, tho majority of freezing-works engineers have very little opportunity of seeing the methods employed at other works, and the object of the boaid in arranging these conferences is to bring engineers together so that ideas may be exchanged. The general discussions should result in an all-round improvement in tho handling of our meat. '' It is particularly pleasing to note tho interest taken by tho different delegates in tho various mattors brought up before these conferences. The science of chemistry was also well represented at tho last conference and figured in tho discussions on tho scientific aspects of the various problems placed before tho meeting. Freezing and Storing Lamb. "The various freezing-works in the Dominion are now handling practically double the quantity of lambs for export as compared with pre-war days, and in the handling of such a perishable product it is highly essential that we should keep pace with the latest methods in respect to freezing, storing, and in tho various links of transit from the freezingworks until the meat is finally deposited on the market. Some time ago complaints were received in respect to the unsatisfactory bloom on certain consignments of lambs when displayed on Smithfield, but it is satisfactory to note that there is now a marked improvement. " It was arranged at the last conference of refrigerating engineers that tho board should conduct further tests during the season, and these are now being carried out. Arrangements havo also been made with the Cambridgo Low Temperature Research Station, England, to carry out certain test 3 in refrigeration. " The experiments carried out by the board in tho pre-cooling of lambs after slaughter show that the placing of lambs into the freezing-chambers three to four hours after slaughter improves the bloom, and so far as these tests have progressed they tend to indicate'that by this method moro of the original weight is retained than if the lambs are left ont all night on a cooling-room floor and possibly exposed to drying winds. " Besides tho tests being carried out at Cambridge, tho board has made arrangements for Dr. A. J. M. Smith, of the Cambridge Low Temperature Station, to carry out a detailed scientific survey of our frozen-meat industry, special attention being given to temperatures, humidity, etc. Dr. Smith will first make a general survoy at tho London end, as applying to the condition of the refrigerated holds in vessels, London cold stores, barges, railway waggons, etc., and note what deterioration takes place between the carrying vessel and Smithfield. Dr. Smith will then arrive in the Dominion about' tho beginning of November next, to continue his Survey, and it is hoped that he will have an opportunity of attending tho next refrigerating engineers' conference to discuss various matters. Dr. Smith has already done valuable work in the survey of food transport, and as a result of his coming visit to this Dominion tho board is confident that considerable benefits will be derived from the scientific ""survey of our frozen-meat industry. Road Transport Experiment. " The need of research work in connection with our frozen-meat trade has prompted the board also to set up a special committee with full power to conduct experiments and mako investigations in regard t-o tho freezing, storing, and transport of meat. The committee consists of Messrs. W. G. Lodder, chief engineer of the Gear Moat Company, Limited; J. McPhee, chief engineer of the Wellington Meat Export Company, Limited; A. M. Wright, chief chemist of tho New Zealand Refrigerating Companv, Limited, Christchurch; Dr. M. A. F. Barnett physicist; Mr. C. R. Barnicoat, bio-chemist, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; and Messrs. John Eraser, general manager, and G. C. Smith, secretary, of the Meat Board. Mr. John Fraser is chairman of the committee. In setting np this committee the board endeavoured to ensure that.both practical and scientific knowledge were combined. The committee held_ its initial meeting, recently, when a preliminary discussion took place in regard to a number cf important problems connected with the industry. " The board has boen going into the question of boning and rolling the various cuts of beef and packing in boxes for shipment to tho United States market, a llas ? ent forward a trial shipment. Some time ago the board conducted some tests in c6unection with the transport of_ lambs bv motor-lorry and by road respectively, with _ a view to determining i the relative loss in weight and deterior- ' ation in quality. It is intended to arrange for further tests to bo carried out at the commencement of tho new season. For some litle time tho board has been making inquiries in regard to the market for animal-glands for the manufacture of various medical preparations, and it re ceptly made arrangements 'or a small trial shipment of various kinds of glands from both sheep and cattle to be sent forward. When the report on this shipment comes to hand it will be circulated to freezing companies and others interested."