| 08/05/07
The quality of English beef carcases showed marked across-the-board
improvements over the past year, according to the latest annual carcase
classification figures from the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX).
Overall, MLC classification reports for more than 200,000
prime cattle slaughtered in England in 2006 show 46% of prime beef
carcases meeting the preferred ‘R4L or better’ specification.
This compares with 41% of carcases meeting the specification in 2005
and 43% in 2004.
More detailed analysis reveals year-on-year improvements in both
the leanness and conformation of all three classes of stock – steers,
heifers and young bulls – to record the best all-round English
beef carcase quality of recent years.
English Annual Beef Carcase Performance (MLC)
|
4L
or Leaner |
R
or Better |
R4L
or Better * |
|
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
2005 |
2006 |
All Prime Cattle |
86% |
89% |
49% |
52% |
41% |
46% |
Steers |
89% |
92% |
49% |
51% |
43% |
47% |
Heifers |
76% |
80% |
48% |
52% |
36% |
42% |
Young Bulls |
97% |
98% |
48% |
58% |
46% |
52% |
* Both leaner and better conformation
The greatest annual progress was recorded in both heifer and young
bull carcase quality, with heifers showing especially noticeable
improvements in both leanness and conformation.
The improved figures reflect the fewer number of young bulls marketed
last year and a corresponding increase in the proportion of steers
and heifers.
For the first time in recent years the proportion of carcases meeting
the ‘R or better’ target for conformation in 2006 exceeded
50%, suggesting breeding improvements could now be having a positive
effect alongside better management.
However, with 48% of carcases still lacking in conformation and well
over half failing to meet both the preferred conformation and leanness
targets, there clearly remains considerable room for improvement
in responding to the demands of the modern beef market.
The fact that the Midlands region recorded 60% of ‘R4L or better’ carcases
last year clearly shows that achieving a very much higher overall
carcase quality is eminently possible given sufficient determination
and incentive.
Practical guidance to support continued improvements in carcase quality
is available free of charge to English levy payers through the EBLEX
Beef Better Returns Programme funded by Defra and the Beef Action
for Profit resource, both accessible at www.eblex.org.uk.
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