SUPPLY CHAIN MARKET INFO Genetics key progress to eating quality As Australia’s lamb “However, subsequent work What is industry moves closer to CRC, including the formation of theundertaken as part of the Sheep ALMTech? a beef-style MSA carcase grading system, meat eating Information Nucleus Flock – now the quality expert Professor Dave MLA Resource Flock – has resulted The ‘Advanced measurement in a raft of new information about technologies for globally Pethick has reinforced the the science of lamb meat quality,” competitive Australian meat project’ importance of using genetic Dave said. (ALMTech) is a collaboration selection tools to produce between the Australian beef, sheep with a balance of eating “This has led to the realisation that sheepmeat and pork industries. quality traits: lean meat yield, an individual grading system is possible to underpin a more refined The project aims to accelerate the intramuscular fat, sire type and and accurate prediction of consumer development and introduction carcase weight. satisfaction of cooked lamb.” of objective carcase and live Murdoch University’s Dave Pethick animal measurement technology. Key to the development of this Once the devices are operating is a professor of biochemistry and system are technologies that can under commercial conditions, nutrition and is leading Program 2 of measure LMY and IMF at chain processors may use the objective the ALMTech project: ‘Development speed. measurements to inform more of eating quality measurement technology’. What the customer wants detailed producer feedback, Another key component of any abattoir carcase sorting and future He recently presented an update grading system is knowing what value-based pricing systems. at LambEx 2018, discussing “the you’re aiming for and facilitating it by The four-year project began conundrum of eating quality versus extensive consumer taste testing. in mid-2016 with $4.8 million lean meat yield”. Since 2009, MSA consumer sensory in federal Rural R&D for Profit Dave’s key messages were that testing has seen more than 4,700 program funding, plus a further intramuscular fat plays an important consumers tuck into 2,844 cuts of $6.7 million pledged by a role in determining the eating qualitylamb. Consumers rated the cuts partnership of 19 processors, of lamb, while excessive muscling based on tenderness, juiciness, technology providers, universities, (or lean meat yield – LMY) has a liking of flavour and overall liking. government departments negative effect on eating quality. and research development When consumer scores were corporations, including MLA. “The advent of genetic selection tools, considered alongside carcase data, such as LAMBPLAN’s Lamb Eating Dave said the best predictors of There are five research programs Quality Index, means balanced consumer grades were sire type within the project: selection for eating quality and (maternal versus terminal), LMY and 1.Development of lean meat yield lean meat yield is now possible to intramuscular fat. measurement technology maintain positive genetic progress 2. Development of eating quality forbot,” he said.h “The sweet spot to achieve at least a4-star (‘Better than everyday’ sensory measurement technology The story so far grade) short loin over a 20–26kg hot 3. Development of robotic Accordingto Dave, the current MSA carcase weight range was LMY less technology lamb% – at roughly59than or equal tosystemis based on “entirely 4.Industry databases valid”er than fat score 3 – and IMFin 2005research published great 5. Data decision systems. andis a best practice pathway of 5% or more,” Dave said. approach to underpinning the eating The pay-off The ALMTech project team has just quality of lamb cuts. Individual lamb carcase grading submitted a three-year funding The key components of the current is predicted to improve producer request for ALMTech Mark II, which system are: feedback, thus enhancing on-farm would see the project extended breeding and management decisions a further two years, with one year • registered producerswho employ overlap with ALMTech Mark I. MLA ‘bestpractice’ on-farm management and market compliance. It’s also is coordinating the project. insupplying lamb expected to deliver new data to • fta score of at least two processors which will allow them to improve efficiency and their capacity • best practice processing to allocate product to the most • electrical stimulation of the carcasevaluable market end-point. ■ (to manipulate pH decline) for g.gardner@murdoch.edu.au domestic lamb d.pethick@murdoch.edu.au • at least five days ageing of the meat. 41