Record Year for MSA: Almost a Million Cattle Graded

AUSTRALIA - Almost one million cattle were graded through the Meat Standards Australia programme (MSA) in the 2008-09 financial year, a record for the programme since its inception.
calendar icon 27 July 2009
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Meat & Livestock Australia

Participating producers were a major beneficiary from the expansion with average premiums of up to 16 cents a kilogram paid in some categorie, reports Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

The results were tangible evidence of the programme achieving greater industry and consumer acceptance according to Michael Crowley, MLA’s Manager MSA.

“Achieving these sorts of premiums is proof that consumers and the industry are putting their money where the mouth is – guaranteed eating quality is a benefit many see as worth paying extra for,” Mr Crowley said.

The grading total for the 2008-09 year was up by 16.7 percent on the previous year, equating to an increase of 140,387 to 979, 228 head.

“Also encouraging has been producer registrations increasing over the last two years, with an additional 2,904 registrations in 2007-08 and 2,787 producers in 2008-09, “ Mr Crowley said.

“This is reflective of the price incentive for producers that has been commercially pulled through from processors and customers further down the supply chain.”

Premiums attributed to MSA for over-the-hooks (OTH) cattle in 2008-09 ranged from 3.55c/kg for 260 - 280 kilogram yearling heifers to 16.30c/kg for 180 - 220 kg yearling steers in NSW.

In Queensland premiums ranged from 5.02c/kg for 220 - 260 kilogram yearling heifers to 11.78c/kg for 220 - 260kg yearling steers.

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