project - Innovative project
Beef Marbling in a High Value Supply Chain
Beef Marbling in a High Value Supply Chain
Objectives
The project involves a dedicated pool of farmers who supply to a small family owned red meat wholesaler that specialise in procuring high quality cattle to high end catering and butchers who rely on a higher fat marbling content. The objective of the project is to identify if levels of intramuscular fat (IMF) can be accurately predicted pre slaughter and correlated with eating quality post slaughter. If successful then animals that can offer premium products can be identified on farm and the opportunity to maximise the predictive point of slaughter will be developed. This decision making data will increase the return to the farmer as well as increase the efficiency of production scheduling at the abattoir. If objectives are met then the farmer will be able to calculate the ideal weight gain and husbandry conditions to reach the desired level of IMF without going beyond and incurring additional on farm costs and potential out of spec penalties.
Objectives
The project involves a dedicated pool of farmers who supply to a small family owned red meat wholesaler that specialise in procuring high quality cattle to high end catering and butchers who rely on a higher fat marbling content. The objective of the project is to identify if levels of intramuscular fat (IMF) can be accurately predicted pre slaughter and correlated with eating quality post slaughter. If successful then animals that can offer premium products can be identified on farm and the opportunity to maximise the predictive point of slaughter will be developed. This decision making data will increase the return to the farmer as well as increase the efficiency of production scheduling at the abattoir. If objectives are met then the farmer will be able to calculate the ideal weight gain and husbandry conditions to reach the desired level of IMF without going beyond and incurring additional on farm costs and potential out of spec penalties.
Activities
Existing IMF scanning technology will be applied in a commercial supply chain to predict the level of IMF in live animals and this will be compared to the actual level of IMF in the carcass post slaughter and correlated to eating quality by target customers. Recorded data on each animal includes husbandry factors and live weight over the final 3 months of finishing and scans to determine IMF, back fat and muscle depth. Pre and post slaughter data along with customer perception of eating quality will be integrated to assess whether there is correlation with on farm scanning protocols.
Activities
Existing IMF scanning technology will be applied in a commercial supply chain to predict the level of IMF in live animals and this will be compared to the actual level of IMF in the carcass post slaughter and correlated to eating quality by target customers. Recorded data on each animal includes husbandry factors and live weight over the final 3 months of finishing and scans to determine IMF, back fat and muscle depth. Pre and post slaughter data along with customer perception of eating quality will be integrated to assess whether there is correlation with on farm scanning protocols.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020
- Agricultural sectors
- Beef cattle
