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Mr. E. Del Costillo, the Argentine Veterinary Inspector, has been indefatigable in
his efforts to prevent this class of meat arriving. He has personally examined every
piece of meat found unsound, and made special reports thereon. It has been suggested
to him that no carcase which shows any lesion of disease, either in the carcase or in the
organs, be exported, and he has reported to his Chief to that effect; it is to be hoped that
in this suggestion a remedy may be found.
Argentine Meat found Diseased.
43 hind-quarters of beef.
8 fore-quarters and pieces of beef.
14 top pieces of beef.
5 rumps „
4 flanks „
1 aitchbone „
1 loin „
The trouble re moulds on beef has almost ceased, and it is now uncommon to
observe meat so affected, instead of being, as it was a few years ago, an every day
sight.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for another trouble, viz., bone taint,
which is the cause of much good quality meat being destroyed; it is to be hoped
that ere long a remedy may be found for this waste of meat.
Australian Meat.
It is gratifying to report that the hopes expressed in last year's Annual Report
have been nearly fulfilled. The Australian Inspectors have improved in their work to
a marked degree; in only a few consignments did we and more than 2 per cent. of the
beef showing nodules, and these were in the majority of cases small nodules which had
evidently escaped observation at the time of inspection. The majority of the consignments
on examination were found free from parasites. No doubt those concerned in
Australia, and even in this country, thought that the regulations applying to this meat
were too severe, but they have produced the desired result, viz., the arrival of the meat
practically free from parasites, thus protecting the interests of the consumers, assisting
the Inspectors at the ports of landing, and saving the owners of the meat considerable
expense in the handling of the meat in the Cold Stores.
A number of calves' carcases arrived in London which were of very poor quality
and were unsuitable for the trade; when the carcases were thawed out they were seen
to be devoid of fat and the flesh very dark in colour, flaccid and unsightly. The same
remarks apply to a number of carcases of mutton. As previously reported, this class of
meat is unfitted for exportation—it is too poor in quality to stand the effects of freezing
and thawing. These carcases were seen by Mr. Cherry, the Australian Veterinary
Inspector, who agrees with this opinion. There is still a marked difference between the
quality of the majority of the beef arriving from Australia and that from Argentina ;
the prices paid for the best breed of bulls showed gratifying results by the class of meat
sent from Argentina and placed on the Smithfield Markets during the Christmas week.
A few cases of tuberculosis were observed, but in justice to the Inspectors in
Australia, it is only right to state that the lesions were deep seated, and with one
exception could not be seen until the meat was broken into joints.