November 11, 2025

 

Australia sees 4.13 million cattle presented for MSA grading in 2024-25

 

 

The number of animals in Australia presented for MSA grading grew to a record of 4.13 million cattle in 2024-25, representing 47% of the national adult cattle slaughter, and 1.25 million lambs, or 4.8% of the national slaughter, according to the programme's newly-released annual performance report.

 

The past financial year also recorded the best eating quality result since the MSA Index was introduced, reaching a record high with an MSA Index average of 58.81.

 

Grainfed cattle achieved an MSA Index average of 59.35 (up 0.97 year-on-year).

 

The report attributed the higher score to a decrease in ossification, an increase in MSA marbling, a decrease in hump height and reduced HGP-usage from 47% down to 42%.

 

The average MSA Index for non-grainfed cattle was 58.22 (down 0.12% year-on-year).

 

Queensland had the largest improvement in MSA Index year-on-year, gaining 0.57 points to 56.71.

 

Western Australia achieved the highest MSA index by State or Territory with an average of 61.02 (up 0.47 points year-on-year).

 

"This continued improvement in MSA Index and ultimately, the eating quality of beef, means there are 10% more 5-star tenderloins, 14% more 4-star cube rolls, and 10% more 4-star striploins compared with 10 years ago," MSA programme manager David Packer says in the 2024-25 MSA annual outcomes report.

 

4.23 million cattle from 13,824 beef producers were presented for MSA grading at 41 Australian processing sites in 2024-25.

 

The report estimated that the MSA programme delivered $409 million in additional returns at farm-gate level for MSA compliant beef carcases in the 2024-25 year.

 

The number of licensed brands underpinned by MSA grew in 2024/25 to a total of 197 beef brands and 22 sheep brands.

 

The proportion of hormone growth promotant (HGP)-treated cattle in FY2025 was 25% (down 4% year-on-year). For MSA graded grainfed cattle, 42% were HGP-treated in FY2025 (down 5% year-on-year)

 

By state, Queensland presented the largest number of cattle for MSA grading, with 1.78 million head from 2,865 producers, or 43% of the total number of cattle presented for MSA-grading in FY25 nationally.

 

New South Wales presented the second largest number for MSA grading, at 1.11 million head, from a total of 3,971 producers.

 

Additionally, the largest increase in numbers graded from South Australia and Western Australia was seen in FY2025, at a 52% and 9% increase respectively.

 

In FY2025, national compliance to MSA minimum requirements was 94.8%, improving 0.8% from FY2024. Compliance to MSA minimum requirements improved throughout the year, from 94% in July 2024 to 96% in June 2025.

- Beef Central