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LEAN MEAT YIELD & SUPPLY CHAINS


Project Leader

Dr Graham Gardner

Murdoch University

Latest Updates

Lean meat yield prediction
CT scanning of information nucleus flock lambs was targeted towards the Hamilton and Turretfield sites, and is almost complete - one kill remaining for the Hamilton site. This work continues to underpin the stability of the lean meat yield prediction.
 
Supply chain coordination and engagement
Bruce Hancock has been busy in his new role as National Lamb Supply Chain Coordinator. Bruce continues to optimize the prospectus of CRC and MLA products relevant to this work area, which is aimed at engaging with the processing sector and to strengthen linkages back to lamb producers. Furthermore Bruce has been actively involved in establishing initial contact meetings with targeted supply chains. Meetings have been completed with a major Victorian supply chain, and a major South Australian supply chain, with follow-up activities planned. Meetings are underway with 2 lamb supplychains in WA to initiate producer training packages for increasing lamb supply in collaboration with Program 1.
 
Lean meat yield (LMY) measurement and prediction
Modest investments are being made into new measurement technologies for LMY, including:
  • Ultrasound - a project proposal is being assessed which aims to overcome the image quality issues that hindered the first phase of experimental work.
  • A project proposal for a prototype probe to measure C site fat depth and eye muscle depth has been approved by MLA. Development work will get under-way shortly.
  • 2-D Xrays are still being investigated as a LMY predictor – contact has been made with Meat & Lamb New Zealand regarding the usage of an Xray driven rib cutter which is apparently being used successfully to predict yield in a New Zealand supply chain.
  • Targeted weighing of cuts has been progressed at one NSW abattoir.

About the Project

The global aim of program 3 is to increase the rate of improvement in lean meat yield as specified in the commonwealth agreement. The supply chain component of Program 3 will endeavour to help achieve this by:
  • Work with early adopter processors to measure and benchmark lean meat yield (e.g. VIAscan plants).
  • Work with early adopter processors to underpin alternative measures of lean meat yield.
  • Use data from benchmarking activities with early adopter processors to develop Industry relevant descriptive statistics around lean meat yield.
  • Work with Program 6 to develop ‘the case(s)’ for lean meat yield that brings in the benchmarking data, an economic analysis and processor needs to develop a final business case targeted at processors/retailers.
This project has a number of quantifiable targets that will demonstrate outcomes;
1) Adoption of new methods to predict lean meat yield (LMY) in up to 4 abattoirs;
2) Development of processor specific supply chains with a focus on LMY,
3) Economic analysis on increasing LMY through specified abattoirs.
 
Without this project the quality science delivered through 3.1.1 and 3.2.1 will have much less impact. If producers are not rewarded for adopting changes at the farm level in terms of the types of lambs produced then the improved selection methods will have a diminished adoption within the industry. This project provides the means for a pull through incentive that can drive change throughout the supply chain.

Contact Details:
Dr Graham Gardner
Project Leader
Lean Meat Yield and Supply Chains
Tel: 08 9360 2264
Email - g.gardner@murdoch.edu.au
 


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