June 17, 2010

 

UK carcass quality improving

A new report shows that an increasing number of farmers are getting it right when it comes to meeting the market specifications, with carcass weights up last year.

 

Analysis of the carcass classification results by Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) and EBLEX shows that in 2009, more than half of beef carcasses in Britain met the market requirements for conformation and fat class.

 

The research also shows that while the GB herd dropped slightly again last year, it was offset by an increase in average carcass weights.

 

The average carcass weight for steers increased two kilogrammes, heifers were up 8kg and young bulls rose by 7kg. This resulted in the average carcass weight for prime beef rose by 3kg.

 

The results come as HCC has launched a new online guide to help raise awareness of how to meet the market requirements. The new website service talks farmers through the different factors that determine the price they receive for their livestock.

 

John Richards, HCC's Industry Information Officer, said: "Knowing when to select animals to meet the market requirements is essential for any livestock farmer as carcass classification is directly linked to price. Farmers are rewarded with better returns if they hit the targets demanded by the market."

 

The new guide is part of the work that HCC is carrying out to increase knowledge of carcass classification. Another part of this work includes the popular carcass classification courses that HCC runs for farmers.

 

The free courses offer farmers the chance to go inside an abattoir and look at the conformation of animals when they are alive and after they have been slaughtered, giving farmers an insight into how livestock are classified.