Producing quality beef: Practical experience, current practice and future direction

Authors

  • Howard Dixon
  • Bob Thomson
  • Arie Graafhuis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.1995.57.2154

Abstract

A study is described which shows the need for a system to collect data that give farmers market signals related to meat quality, to enable them to make decisions on how best to achieve good returns from their animals. A case study is presented for one of eight Northland farms where on-farm handling, nutritional factors and transport factors that may affect meat quality has been monitored. The high variability of meat quality parameters between mobs from four farms is highlighted. For beef quality to improve, quality must be measured, and benefits to farmers and meat processing plants must be based on the quality of the product. A value-based payment system is strongly advocated, an essential requirement of which would be a beef trading database. Five main groups are identified which would provide input to the database: the seed-stock industry, commercial cattle breeders, cattle finishers, meat processors, and meat exporters. A national standard for describing beef quality is urgently required and is a prerequisite for any database. Keywords: beef quality, case study, database, meat quality, monitor farms

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Published

1995-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles