MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19662, 23 August 1935, Page 9

MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The article in last Thursday’s Times dealing with the municipal abattoir has tempted me to put my views into print, taking exception to a Councillor’s statement that a carcase he viewed on arrival from Horotiu was in a shocking condition. Ho does not slate what brought about this condition —whether loss of quality, dirty, bruised or mutilated —hut as he mentions the long drive to the abattoirs and the lack of suitable holding paddocks for stock at Horotiu I take It to he inferior quality that caused the oomplaint. Now I have had a fair experience with stock, also a number of years in the butchery business, attend the sales fairly regularly; and my opinion is that some of those cattle are in a “shocking condition’’ before they are bought ( and put to ' this nine-mile drive. Some of our master butchers buy the best cattle procurable for the local trade, while others purchased are not even good boners (cull cows that have given of their best while in the herd), and one has only to meet these cattle on the road on Wednesday morning to see what are called top-price cattle. Now to “knock" the nine-milo-drive excuse. We also read in a recent publication of the Times an article on chilled beef, and learn that these choice quality bullocks are all driven to the works, some mobs being four days on the road, having to travel 40-odd miles in that time. On arrival at Horotiu they are put into clean yards, given a little hay to help settle them down, and allowed to rest for 3G hours before slaughter. I was informed by a man who was fortunate enough to gain admission to the works to see one shipment treated that they were splendid quality cattle, practically free from bruise, and reports from overseas on tins particular lot referred to the quality as excellent. So this proves the drive from Frankton does not affect good quality cattleAs for holding accommodation, well I do not see many farms or abattoir paddocks anywhere at this time of year with enough feed to hold the cattle in good condition. Our local butchers buy weekly supplies at Tuesday’s sale, and if the stock purchased are prime quality when bought tiicy will show very little loss in one week. This has been proved with bullocks for chilling. Any person with stook experience will know that when a mob of mixed cattle is taken to a different locality it is about a week before they set lie down to graze. During lids time they are continually on Ihe move, and any feed is tramped into the ground, especially this wet weather. To deal with liio treatment received by the cattle for local requirements compared with those for the chitted trade, as already mentioned, the latter are carefully selected on the farms; special drovers are chosen to deliver them to the works, taking care not to excite or hurry them, and to take every precaution against bruising; while those for the local trade are subject to trucking, drafting in ¥,lllOll yards, dogged through narrow gateways, amt both sexes mixed. All those I lungs cause bruising and damage to the "carcase- There may lie other faults between the saleyanb and shop Ihat 1 am not conversant with, but 1 would suggest that when the Horoiiigh Council set out to investigate, one thing worthy of notice Is the 'means of transportation of meat from abattoir to shop-—I am, etc.. O* THE ROAD. Ngaruawabia. August IP, 193.).