Edition 188: Friday February 23, 2007.

The Farmingshow Straggle Muster

The Real Big Chill

In the 1880s, sheep farmers in New Zealand faced a dilemma. There were 13 million sheep and a population of just half a million. Too few residents; and no way of exporting the meat.

New Zealand's only major exports in the early 1880s were wool and wheat. That is, until two far-sighted entrepreneurs committed their energies to a "big chill" idea that changed the face of New Zealand meat exports forever.

Dray loads of freshly killed sheep carcasses were carried from Oamaru's Totara Estate -which today is a major tourist attraction. On February 15, 1882, the sailing ship Dunedin left Port Chalmers with 4909 frozen sheep carcasses aboard. It was just the start of an industry that is the backbone of New Zealand's economy.

THE MEN

THOMAS BRYDONE (April 14, 1837-June 17, 1904) grew up in Scotland, establishing a reputation in England and Scotland as a capable industrious land steward and travelling inspector. In 1867 he was appointed a superintendent of the New Zealand and Australia Land Company. Brydone rose steadily through the company's ranks, and he was a successful farmer himself.

WILLIAM DAVIDSON (June 15, 1846 - July 17, 1924), like Brydone, had Scottish roots. He came to New Zealand to help run the Canterbury and Otago Association , later becoming New Zealand Superintendent of the New Zealand and Australia Land Company. After 12 years in New Zealand, Davidson realised the country's future lay in being able to sell meat overseas. He and Brydone began exploring methods of preserving, refrigerating and transporting meat.

In 1878, Davidson gained a further promotion with the Land Company and returned to Scotland as General Manager which proved important in the progress of the refrigeration work. Brydone remained in New Zealand, building a slaughter factory at Totara, selecting stock and organising rail and road distribution networks while Davidson dealt with insurance, distribution and sales in Britain.

THE VOYAGE

The first frozen sheep were stowed personally by Davidson and Brydone on the ship Dunedin on December 7, 1881. All went well until a fracture of the refrigerating engine's crank-shaft stopped the loading and forced the sale of the 641 sheep then in the chambers and of the 360 sheep in transit. So New Zealanders themselves became the first consumers of our own frozen meat.

But repairs were undertaken and the Dunedin set sail on February 15, 1882 under the command of Captain John Whitson. Captain Whitson always worried that sparks from the refrigerating machinery stovepipe-like funnel would burn his masts, as on several occasions, sparks from the funnel set fire to the sails.

However, the Dunedin and its precious cargo survived the voyage, berthing eventually in the London docks.

WHEN THEY GOT THERE

The voyage from Port Chalmers to London took 98 days, the Dunedin docking on May 24, 1882. The discharging of the cargo began three days after arrival with the meat being taken out at night and moved to the Smithfield Market, so the sheep were hard frozen when butchers came to buy.

In the first instance, the salesmen were rather doubtful of the venture being a success, but when they saw the fine, big sheep, they quickly changed their minds, and pronounced the meat to be "as perfect as frozen meat could be".

Within two weeks of the arrival of the Dunedin in London, New Zealand lamb sat at twice its value on the domestic market.

By 1891, there were 17 processing facilities in New Zealand capable of handling 3.5 million carcasses a year. This almost doubled to 31 meat works by 1911.

THE INDUSTRY TODAY

Today New Zealand exports lamb to some 200 countries including the European Union, North America, North and South Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East Africa.

The industry has rationalized to 50 meat export processing plants which service the whole red meat industry.

From the first frozen shipment of lamb, the meat industry has grown to more than 40 million sheep and 9.2 million cattle. The dynamic industry contributes more than $5 billion a year to the New Zealand economy.

And remember to get your lunchtime bite of farming every weekday afternoon from Noon to 1pm on a radio station near you:
Nation-wide on Newstalk ZB in Alexandra on 95.1FM, Ashburton on 873AM, Blenheim on 92.1FM, Gisborne on 945AM, Greymouth on 99.1FM, Oamaru on 1395AM, Queenstown on 89.6FM, Taupo on 95.9FM, Timaru on 1152AM, Tokoroa on 1413AM, Wairarapa on 846AM, Wanaka on 90.6FM and Wanganui on 1197AM.
Hokonui Gold in Southland and West Otago on 94.8FM
Radio Clutha in South Otago on 96.9FM
Central FM in Hawkes Bay on 93.5, 96.6 and 99.4FM.

Or visit our home on the web at farmingshow.com.