New Meat Standards Australia transport pathway for producers
A new Meat Standards Australia transport pathway allows eligible cattle to remain MSA compliant after journeys of up to 120 hours, subject to preparation, rest, feed, water and documentation requirements.
“It gives producers an enhanced ability to market their cattle towards MSA meat markets and to access branded beef programs that are underpinned by the MSA eating quality standards,”
Beef producers in northern and remote regions can now access the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system through a new transport pathway that allows eligible cattle to remain MSA compliant after journeys of up to 120 hours.
The MSA Beef long duration road and/or rail transport pathway follows research funded by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), which found cattle could be transported for up to five days from property dispatch to slaughter without compromising eating quality, provided they are appropriately prepared and managed throughout the journey.
The requirements include access to good quality hay or dry feed and water at rest stops and during lairage, as well as compliance with preparation, transport, rest and documentation requirements.
The pathway provides an option for cattle from regions where longer distances to processing facilities have previously limited access to MSA grading and branded beef programs. MSA grading uses on farm, carcase and processing data to predict beef eating quality.
MLA program manager, carcase value, David Packer, said the pathway addressed transport distances faced by producers in northern Australia.
“For many producers in northern Australia, distance has been one of the major barriers to accessing MSA grading opportunities,” Packer said.
“This pathway provides a science-backed solution that reflects the realities of northern production systems while maintaining the integrity and consumer confidence that underpin the MSA program.
“The research showed that when cattle are appropriately managed prior to and throughout the transport journey, including access to feed, water and suitable rest periods, eating quality outcomes are maintained and the MSA model continues to accurately predict consumer satisfaction.”
The research involved 920 cattle across four commercial scale transport replicates, with more than 4,000 beef samples assessed by more than 6,000 consumers.
Researchers found that neither transport duration nor transport mode, whether road or rail, adversely affected eating quality outcomes when the pathway requirements were met.
Teys Group general manager, livestock, Glenn Poole, said the project could increase the number of cattle eligible for MSA grading.
“It gives producers an enhanced ability to market their cattle towards MSA meat markets and to access branded beef programs that are underpinned by the MSA eating quality standards,” Poole said.
For processors and producers using the pathway, cattle must be managed throughout the supply chain, from preparation on farm through transport, rest and processing.
At each point in the journey, the key is to ensure that all cattle are adequately fed, appropriately watered and sufficiently rested, allowing them the best opportunity to perform to their best.
“As a processing company, verification with our producers, our rail and transport carriers and at the plant underpin the science of this research and ensure that the longevity and integrity of the MSA standards and brand are upheld,” Poole said.
Eligible consignments must meet requirements covering journey duration, access to good quality hay or dry feed and water during transport, and documented compliance across the supply chain.
The pathway also requires coordination between producers, transport operators and processors to maintain animal welfare, eating quality and MSA compliance throughout the journey.
