CHILLED BEEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21404, 31 January 1933, Page 5

CHILLED BEEF

KILLING FOR SHIPMENT

THE WAIRARAPA EXPERIMENT

CONFIDENCE OF PROMOTERS [3Y TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] MASTERTON", Monday " Wo have now definitely decided to ship forequarters as well as h'ndquarters," said 11 r. P. J. Borthwick, a director of Messrs. T. Borthwick and Sons, to-day, when discussing the experimental shipment cf chilled beef by the Port Fairy, which leaves Wellington on Friday for London. " Experts in London," added Mr. Borthwick, " consider that the hindquarters will carry, far better if they are accompanied by forequarters." The shipment will now comprise 300 hindquarters and 303 forequarters. As has been previously stated, there is little difference in price, from a marketable point of view, at Home between chilled and frozen forequarters, and it had been the intention of the firm to send from 550 to 600 hindquarters and only a few forequarters to ensure good storagfl for tho hindquarters. The altered decision simplifies killing, as not so many bullocks will now have to be slaughtered. Best Quality Beei Killing operations for the shipment lasted nearly a week. Every precaution is being uaken to ensure that only the rery best quality beef will be shipped and a number of quarters have been rejected. "The killing," said Mr. Borthwick, " was carried out entirely by non-union men aid was done very well indeed. In fact," he added, " I have not seen better dressed beef in New Zealand." The quarters are being chilled in one chambsr and then stored in another chiller, where they will be held ready for shipment. The actual loading out will not be done until the last possible moment. The firm had its chillers at Waingawa overhauled last winter and they are now considered to be the most up-to-date in the Dominion. Air Circulation Touching on the actual chilling process, Mr. Borthwick said that a* number of ordinary electric fans had been installed in the chamber tp keep the cool air circulating. Air circulation, he added, was one of the main points to be considered. Any variation in temperature resulted in mould, but this difficulty could be overcome by good circulation. By means of actual experiments, it had been found that in a room held at 32 degrees without air circulation there was a difference of over two degrees between the temperature at the top of the room and that at the bottom. The ordinary rising of hot air and the falling of cold wa3 not enough,.the movement not- being uniform. It was necessary to have an even temperature as well as air circulation. While full stress was laid on the fact that the shipment was purely in thj naturo of an experiment, Mr. Borthwick spoke hopefully as to the outcome. They felt quite confident, he said, that the shipment would prove a success. Naturally, a great deal depended on the rates of freight charged by the shipping companies, but he felt sure that a commercially workable basis of freight charges could be arranged. The increased charges would account''for some of the difference in the price obtained for' chilled as compared with frozen beef. Even so, he thought the returns would still be satisfactory. Voyage of 40 Days

This Port Fairy will proceed to London via Ope Horn, the voyage taking approximately 40 days. How v long chilled beef will retain its condition and remain free from mould depends on a number of undeterminable factors. Some of the meat from a recent Brisbane shipment lasted over 50 days and was then mark6t6d in splendid condition. South Africa has been displaying- enterprise' in marketing successfully a number of experimental shipment!!. Ona shipment was treated at Johanndsburg, railed about 1000 miles to Capetown, and marketed in London in excellent condition. The Wairarapa shipment will be taken straight from the docks, to Smithfield, where it will be sold right away. "The meat cannot be held, but :nust go straight away, irrespective of what the price or the market might be," said Mr. Borthwick. Thi;re appears to be a constant demand at Home for chilled beef from South Africa and Australia. It now remains to be seen whether the same measure of success awaits consignments from New Zealand.