WEIGHT FOR EXPORT STEER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 6

WEIGHT FOR EXPORT STEER

To the Editor of the Australasian. Sir,—A report from the Commonwealth veterinary officer in London, Mr. H. R. Tinney, states that some splendid beef from Townsville (Q.) had arrived in excellent condition, and that the colour of this beef compared very favourably with that of South American beef. But many of the quarters were too large for the trade, rendering them practically unsaleable. Some of these quarters were reported to be over 2101 b in weight, which is about 401 b. above what the market required. At the Sydney Royal Show the prizes for export steers require the dressed weights to be between 6801 b. and 7201 b. At the Melbourne Show, for the export steer prizes, the dressed weights have to range between 6401 b. and 8801 b. It appears to me an extraordinary thing that the R.A.S. of Victoria should give such a high limit as 8801 b. dressed weight for an export steer prize. It seems ridiculous that the R.A.S. of New South Wales and the R.A.S. of Victoria should have such a difference in weights for export steer prizes. I should think the object of the export prizes give nby the R.A.S. of Victoria was to educate the people as to what was the ideal carcase for export. This society maintains that 8801 b. is not too heavy, and yet Mr. Tinney, on the other hand, says 8801 b. is in the vicinity of 2001 b. too heavy. In letters I receive from people in Great Britain, connected with the meat trade, I gather the ideal export carcase is between 6001 b and 7001 b. They say, “Far too heavy, “More fitted for the soap works,” etc. “If Australia wants to meet with success in the chilled beef trade send us the small, compact carcase,” Mr. Tinney’s report bears this out. I am very interested in exhibiting steers in the export classes. I commenced exhibiting in 1932 with the following results:—1932, first single export steer; 1933, first pair export steers, first and second single export steer; 1934, first pair of export; steers; 1935, first pair of export steers, first, second, and third single export steer; 1936, first pair of export steers, first and second single export steers. The weights of these winning steers would average about 6701 b. My method is to pick out the animals I intend to show that are aged about 18-20 months at date of show. The right animal at this age will give a carcase between 670-7001 b., or thereabouts. The judge must find himself in a very difficult position with .such a wide margin in the specified weights. With the weights given by the New South Wales society an exhibitor knows what sort of animals to exhibit. With the 6401 b to 8801 b. limit of the Victorian society an exhibition is puzzled as to whether it is best to send a he vy animal or a light one. .—Yours, etc. H. S. DOCKER, Wangaratta, Sept. 20.