M 88
Experimental Shipment of Live Stock from Australia.
In June the Australian Investment Agency Company of Sydney, a firm with very large interests in the Live Stock and Meat Trades of New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia despatched one hundred head of cattle from Port Darwin per s.s. "Cantara." Owing to extremely bad weather, etc., the cattle were at sea for some five weeks instead of about three as was expected. Ordinary tonnage not being available for the purpose, the opportunity was taken of getting the cattle taken by the above mentioned ship which was on the route for Shanghai. The ship was not of a good type for this purpose and the cattle suffered accordingly in the rough weather encountered.
Through the kindness of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company we were enabled to erect landing, storage and slaughter accommodation at the Company's Aberdeen Dock. At the disembarkation of the cattle the unfortunate structure of the ship again became painfully apparent. That the difficulties which arose then were successfully overcome is largely due to the energy and initiative displayed by the members of the Dock Company's staff who assisted at the landing—from ship-building to cow punching is no short step. Owing to the hardship of the voyage six cattle were a total loss and the remaining ninety-four had deteriorated very much in weight and quality and would have required several weeks conditioning on good pasture in order to do justice to the "runs from which they had been drawn.
After a few days rest slaughter was commenced and carried through with no great difficulty.
The average weight of the dressed carcases was 540 lbs.
The carcases were sold to various butchers. Difficulty was experienced by these butchers in marketing this for two reasons. (a) owing to hardship the meat was too coarse for the better class trade, (b) the conservative nature of the Chinese prevented their taking very kindly to it.
The absence of disease from the carcases was marked.
Conclusions:
Owing to the misfortune in the shape of bad weather, etc., which dogged the experiment from the very start, no sound conclusions as to the suitability of the cattle for the local market could be arrived at.
In my opinion it would be unwise to attempt any further experiments with beef cattle under present conditions. It is imperative that the shipment should be direct otherwise the cattle lose too much in condition.
WALTER J. E. MACKENZIE,
Colonial Veterinary Surgeon.
April, 1925.
M 88
Experimental Shipment of Live Stock from Australia.
In June the Australian Investment Agency Company of Sydney, a firm with very large interests in the Live Stock and Meat Trades of New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory of Australia despatched one hundred head of cattle from Port Darwin per s.s.
Cantara." Owing to extremely bad weather, etc., the cattle were at sea for some five weeks instead of about three as was expected. Ordinary tonnage not being available for the purpose, the opportunity was taken of getting the cattle taken by the above mentioned ship which was on the route for Shanghai. The ship was not of a good type for this purpose and the cattle suffered accordingly in the rough weather encountered. Through the kindness of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company we were enabled to erect landing, storage and slaughter accommodation at the Company's Aberdeen Dock. At the disembarkation of the cattle the unfortunate structure of the ship again became painfully apparent. That the difficulties which arose then were successfully overcome is largely due to the energy and initiative displayed by the members of the Dock Company's staff who assisted at the landing-from ship- building to cow punching is no short step. Owing to the hardship of the voyage six cattle were a total loss and the remaining ninety-four had deteriorated very much in weight and quality and would have required several weeks conditioning on good pasture in order to do justice to the "runs from which they had been drawn.
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After a few days rest slaughter was commenced and carried through with no great difficulty.
The average weight of the dressed carcases was 540 lbs.
The carcases were sold to various butchers. Difficulty was experienced by these butchers in marketting this for two reasons. (a) owing to hardship the meat was too coarse for the better
class trade,
(b) the conservative nature of the Chinese prevented their
taking very kindly to it.
The absence of disease from the carcases was marked.
Conclusions:~
Owing to the misfortune in the shape of bad weather, etc., which dogged the experiment from the very start, no sound con- clusions as to the suitability of the cattle for the local market could be arrived at.
In my opinion it would be unwise to attempt any further experiments with beef cattle under present conditions. It is imperative that the shipment should be direct otherwise the cattle lose too much in condition.
WALTER J. E. MACKENZIE,
Colonial Veterinary Surgeon.
April, 1925.
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