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37
According to the Twenty-Seventh Annual Review of the Frozen Meat Trade, 1914
published by Messrs. W. Weddel and Co., Ltd., the total receipts of all kinds of frozen
and chilled meats in 1914 amounted to 694,456 tons, as against 720,661 tons in 1913.
Out of 200,875 tons of frozen beef imported, only 101,440 tons were produced
within the British Empire.
Further, that more than sixty per cent, of the beef, mutton and lamb consumed in
the United Kingdom is still produced in the British Isles,
The world's export of frozen and chilled meat in 1914 is estimated at 800,413
tons, compared with 766,910 tons in 1913, and 678,658 tons in 1912.
BEEF.
The total importations of beef (frozen and chilled), from all sources aggregated
5,788,147 quarters, of which:—
Australia contributed 1,236,466 frozen quarters.
New Zealand „ 321,784 „ „
South America „ 1,308,868 ,, „
„ „ „ 2,865,022 chilled „
United States ,, 55,307 frozen „
South Africa „ 700 „ „
Total 5,788,147 quarters.
The number of quarters discharged from vessels in the Port of London was
2,426,505 or 41'92 per cent, of the total imported, being an increase of 374,393
quarters compared with 1913.
With very few exceptions the beef arrived in good condition, and your officers
only found it necessary to seize as unfit for human food 926 hinds and crops, 426
pieces, and a quantity of trimmings, the total weight of which was 82 tons 9 cwts.
qrs. 26 lbs., being upwards of 50 tons in excess of the previous year's total.
The largest seizure made was about 21 tons, and particulars in respect of this are
given on page 49.
AUSTRALIAN BEEF AFFECTED WITH "WORM" (ONCHOCERCA).
In only one instance was Australian beef found to be affected with "worm." The
consignment consisted of 398 buttocks, which arrived on the 22nd January, was
examined by one of your Food Inspectors, and "worm " nests (Onchocerca) found in
49 of them = 12*3 per cent.
One hundred and sixty-one hind-quarters of beef of a different mark from the same
ship were carefully examined and " worm "nests found in 6 of them = 3-72 per cent.
The meat bore the Official Certificate of the Commonwealth of Australia, as
approved by the Local Government Board.