LIVESTOCK producers have praised an innovative move to implement objective carcass measurement in all AUS-MEAT-registered processing facilities across Australia.
The Victorian Farmers Federation Livestock Group has thrown its support behind a push by Meat and Livestock Australia to take out a $150 million commercial loan to install the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) technology in up to 90 plants.
“We want to achieve a more mature supply chain and implementing objective carcass measurement is a big step forward in reaching that goal,” VFF Livestock President Leonard Vallance said.
“DEXA technology will provide a more efficient, cost effective solution to address the independence issue around carcass grading.”
The move was one of the recommendations made by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in its interim report into competition in the beef industry.
Mr Vallance said the new technology would lead to genetic and farm management decisions that would improve returns to the farm gate, as well as improve relationships across the supply chain.
“Objective carcass measurement will help increase trust between processors and producers and achieve farm production benefits with precise carcass feedback so that will improve returns to the farm gate,” he said.
“The industry strongly supports a move to objective carcass measurement because it will improve domestic and global competitiveness.”
It is hoped that DEXA technology will begin in 2017, but no timeline has been released for completion of the project.
