Some carcase characteristics of feral horses from the Northern Territory.

Abstract

Animal Production in Australia Vol. 15 SOME CARCASE CHARACTERISTICS OF FERAL HORSES FROM THE NORTHERN TERRITORY W.M. SYNNOT* SUMMARY Three hundred and ninety seven feral horses were mustered from different areas of the Northern Territory and slaughtered in November/December, 1982. For each horse the hot carcase weight was recorded. The carcase sides were quartered at 3/4 rib; then boned and sliced into 10 cuts (clod, knuckle, outside, inside rump, striploin, tenderloin, shanks, fore with clod removed and trimmings). For each group of horses, the amount of boneless meat per horse, percentage of cuts and weight of cuts were calculated. The pH and micro-organism counts were recorded. Horses from southern areas were heavier despite the extra transport distance; yields and percentage of cuts from the different groups were similar; some of the meat is suitable for vacuum packing; there was minimal micro-organism contamination. There is a potential to develop a new export industry for Northern Australia provided costs can be kept competitive with other countries and feral horses can be upgraded. INTRODUCTION This is the second stage to test the feasibility of mustering and slaughtering of feral horses for export for human consumption. Results of the first stage - 90 brumbies were mustered from central Australia and slaughtered - showed promise (Synnot 1983) and the need to take horses from different locations. The third and final stage involves financial analysis. Estimates of a possible feral horse population of around 150,000 have been made (McKnight 1976). Principal concentrations are in the northern part of the Northern Territory, central part of the Gulf of Carpenteria, around Alice Springs, east of Birdsville and central Western Australia. Until about 50 years ago many station owners actively bred horses. Now station owners concentrate on cattle breeding and consider feral horses as vermin as they compete with cattle for feed and water, and destroy fences and water troughs. The number of feral horses depends upon the amount of control exercised by man, weather conditions, and additions from domesticated horses (M&night 1976). As man is the only predator of feral horses, their numbers increase rapidly in favourable seasons and whenever market prices make mustering, trapping and shooting uneconomic. 9~ Mouldar Consultants Limited, Box 23061, Wanchai P.O., Hong Kong. 612 Animal Production in Australia Vol. I5 The main markets of horsemeat for human consumption are Europe and these markets can be penetrated, station owners will have the chance to their income from complete reliance on cattle. Instead of indiscriminate of feral horses, active selection, culling and fattening practices could MATERIALS AND METHODS Japan. If diversify shooting develop. In late November and early December 1982 horses were mustered from central Australia, central Northern Territory, and east and west of the Top-end of the Northern Territory. The station owners were asked not to send young or lightbrses. All horses were slaughtered within 3 days of mustering. Immediately following slaughter the carcases were chilled for 24 hours before boning, slicing, packing and blast freezing. For each horse the hot carcase weight was recorded. Each type of cut was packed into separate cartons. The number of cuts per carton and weight of meat per carton was recorded for each group of horses. RESULTS TABLE 1 Sources, number of horses and some carcase characteristics (mean hot carcase and boneless meat weights, and yield) TABLE 2 Distribution of hot carcase weights (%) 613 Animal Production in Australia Vol. I5 TABLE 3 Percentages of meat cuts Table 3 indicates the percentages of meat cuts are similar for horses killed from the 3 areas. TABLE 4 Average weights per cut (kg) Table 4 indicates that horses from the southern areas gave heavier cuts. The distribution of percentages of meat cuts and weights per cut within groups was not possible as the weight of each cut was not recorded. TABLE 5 pH and micro-organism counts from frozen striploin 614 Animal Production in Australia Vol. I5 Tests were conducted by the Central Food Hygiene Laboratory, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide. For maximum stor age life of chil led vacuum packed meat the pH must be below 6.0 (CSIRO et al 1 982) . There was min ima 1 contamination of the meat. DISCUSSION The average hot carcase weight of 187.26 kg was lower than the previous slaughter of 90 horses - 245.8 kg (Synnot 1983). This can be explained by the season and sources of horses. The earlier slaughter occurred in June, at the start of the dry season when the pastoral conditions are good. While this slaughter was several months later at the end of the dry season when the feed had deteriorated. As shown by the tables the horses from southern areas are heavier, . as is the case with cattle (DPP 1982). The horses in the first slaughter were from Central Australia while the second slaughter of 397 horses came from all parts of Northern Territory. Horsemeat with pH below 6.0 is suitable for chilling and vacuum packing. Being chilled increases the price obtainable but poses problems on the transport as chilled meat deteriorates more quickly than when frozen. As there are large numbers of feral horses there is a possibility of developing a second enterprise on cattle stations. Horses would be of secondary importance whilst cattle provide a higher return. However some grazing areas are more suited to horses than cattle. These areas include those declared unclean under the eradication programme for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis in the Northern Territory and lack adequate water facilities (horses will travel greater distances from water to feed than cattle). Often horses can be collected at the same time as cattle mustering. Better husbandry techniques would improve the return from horses to the station owners. Upgrading of feral horses with good stallions and culling of poor performers would result in heavier horses. The present system of transporting live horses long distances to slaughter is expensive in freight costs and loss of condition. There is a need to look at slaughtering feral horses near their sources. REFERENCES AMLC (1979). 'Handbook of Australian Meat' 3rd ed. (AMLC:Sydney) CSIRO and DPP (1982). 'N.T. Beef in the 80's' (CSIRO Dept of Ground-water Research : Australia). DPP (1982). 'Northern Territory Primary Production Statistics 1981/82' Techn. Bull no. 64. M&NIGHT, T. (1976). 'Friendly Vermin - a Survey of Feral Livestock in Australia', Vol.21 (Uni of California Press : USA). SYNNOT, W.M. (1983). Agric Record 15 (in print), a-s 615