September 8, 2011

Australia to test new grass-fed cattle system

The Cattle Council of Australia has appointed a consultant to test its new Pasturefed Cattle Assurance System following more than two years in development.

However, whether processors will support the initiative remains to be seen.

CCA announced in April 2009 it would develop a grass-fed standard to avoid divisions plaguing the industry over terms such as "natural" and "grass-fed".

However many processors, including Cargill last month, have launched grass-fed brands.

CCA deputy director Jed Matz said the system would be running by early 2012 and would enable Australian beef to gain greater access to the US. "The main driver is the US market where labels claiming to be pasture-fed need to justify their claims," Matz said.

The PCAS requires cattle to be only pasture-fed, be HGP and antibiotic-free, have lifetime traceability, be eligible for Meat Standards Australia grading and not be lot-fed.

CCA wants processors to use the PCAS to underpin brands; however it would not be a brand to be marketed to consumers.

Matz said the standard would still be useful in helping grow markets despite many processors already launching brands.

"Personally I'd have liked us to get this going sooner, but the beef industry is big and there are many people we need to get on board. I don't think it's too late," Matz said.