FULL OF PROMISE

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3471, 26 May 1934, Page 12

FULL OF PROMISE

CHILLED BE£F TRADE. A statement that New Zealand chilled beef, if attention were paid to quality, would eventually beat the Argentine product was made last week at a • gathering of farmers at Carterton by Mr. T. A. Duncan, a member of the Meat Producers’ Board. Mr.' Duncan congratulated Messrs. Borthwick and Sons on their initial shipments. ,The shipping companies had risen to the occasion and had delivered the beef in London in almost perfect condition. He had a great deal of faith in the future for the chilled beef trade. The need of getting younger cattle of the best breed possible was stressed by Mr. Duncan. He expressed the belief that if the quality were built up New Zealand would eventually beat the Argentine product, which, he said, lacked the flavour possessed by the best quality beef from-New Zealand. The reason

he -said, was that New Zealand had the best English pastures, against alfalfa in Argentina. The cattle New Zealand should aim at were three-year-old steers —from two years and nine months to not exceeding three years and a half. If these cattle were well bred and well fattened, he did not think there would be better anywhere.

As to the grading of beef, the board, he said, considered that they should have nothing but the firstclass article, so as to command the highest prices. After detailing how his firm made the initial shipments, Mr. P. Borthwick said they believed that the chilled beef trade was going to be a very great thing for New Zealand. The firm was making further shipments, one in a fortnight’s time and another at the end of June, and if possible, one in July. The trade was very young, and it would take time to get the cattle. As they got further away from the experimental stage they hoped to be able to pay a little more for the beef, and the farmer would then, he hoped, find that it paid him to grow the type of cattle wanted. It was important to ship the right type of cattle.