CHILLED BEEF

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 6

CHILLED BEEF

SUITABLE WANGANUI CATTLE NOTHING TO FEAE FROM ARGENTINE. New Zealand has little or nothing to fear from the Argentine in the chilled beef trade if the graziers would only produce in larger numbers young cattle of the type to be seen on some of the pastures near Wanganui. Thia view was expressed by a visitor to the district who has seen the best Argentine chilled beef hanging up in Smitnfield Market, London. A mob of young Hereford bullocks tn be seen from the main roaefnear Westmere and another lot of young Polled Angus cattle to be seen in the FcrdoU district particularly impressed the • isitor as being of the type desired for the chilled beef industry. Much of the beef produced in this country is bred on the right lines, he said, but it is often too old when killed and has not received the proper treatment or feed to fit i# for chilling. The essence of success in producing cattle for chilling is never to have a store period in the life of the animals. This is in distinct contrast to the usual method of treating beef cattle in New Zealand where they are frequently called on to keep in order the pastures for sheep. While performing this duty they seldom receive any supplementary fodder in the winter time, wi*h a result that they lose condition. While admitting that it had been an excellent grass season, the visitor expressed the opinion that there was w large area of pasture adjacent to Wan ganui which could hardly be better foi the production of cattle suitable fot chilling. The obvious procedure appear e<l to be for graziers to purchase younf animals from the higher country and t< feed them well with hay and ensilage in the winter, and then finish them off in the summer on the good pastures.