CHILLED BEEF TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 12

CHILLED BEEF TRADE

NEW ZEALAND’S ENTRY COMMENT AT SMITHFIELD. PRAISE AND GOOD ADVICE. Some interesting comments on the condition of the first shipment of chilled beef from New Zealand when it was placed on the market at Smithfield are contained in a letter received by an Auckland resident from a friend who has a large butchery business in the South of London. The opinions expressed by this practical man are of undoubted value to those interested in beef breeding for the export trade. “At Smithfield I found a very fine display of chilled beef from New Zealand, stated this correspondent in his letter. “It was in perfect condition, as bright as a new shilling, and a class of beef very suitable to the London trade. The great point is how it eate. To build up a trade meat must be good when it is eaten. That is the first and last point which must be studied.... “Naturally the cargo was the chief topic of talk in the market and I did not hear one 'adverse criticism; in fact there was nothing but great praise.... I take off my hat to all those who had to carry out their part in making this experiment such an outstanding success. A GREAT FUTURE. “There were plenty of good black polled beasts killed for this job. I carefully examined a good many quarters of beef and could find only one thing detrimental. Several of the hindquarters showed signs in the suet of having wasted, indicating they had come a considerable journey without food and perhaps water* to the slaughterhouses. This to the inexperienced may not mean much, but it means a tremendous lot, as when an animal is without food or water for several days it uses up the sap or moisture in its body. If this is not replaced before killing the beef will eat dry and hard. I do not definitely say this did happen in this case, but several quarters of beef had this appearance and I think I am right. “Without a doubt our- Government’s view is to give the colonies a preference over foreign countries, and they would welcome with open arms anyone who started new enterprises or improved present ones between the colonies and the Mother Country. If your island farmer will grow the type of beef required for the London trade and it can be brought here at a reasonable figure there is a great future for New Zealand. ; ONLY THE BEST WANTED. “I personally think he could beat the Argentine farmer as I am under the impression that your climate is suitable to the Polled Angus breed. The nights in the Argentine are too cold for their thin hides, so the Hereford and Shorthorn are favoured, but they do not produce the class of beef like the Polled Angus. The latter can be made into a perfect body of beef at 18-24 months, and their size at this age commands id per lb. more than the others.... “I hope the island farmers will take advantage of a good thing and do their utmost to beat allcomers by quality. They have done it with lambs, why not have a try with beef?” The letter concludes: “We can get plenty of inferior beef so I hope they will not think anything does for the London market—the demand for the best is here, will they fill the hooks ?”