07/04/08
For the second year in a row the quality of English beef carcases
has shown clear across-the-board improvements, reveal the latest
annual carcase classification figures from EBLEX Ltd, the industry
body for beef and lamb levy-payers in England.
Overall, MLC classification reports for more than 200,000 prime
cattle slaughtered in England in 2007 show 48% of prime beef carcases
meeting the preferred ‘R4L or better’ specification.
This compares with 46% of carcases meeting the specification in 2006
and just 41% in 2005.
More detailed analysis reveals year-on-year improvements in the leanness
and conformation of both steers and heifers, with steers showing
a particularly encouraging degree of conformation improvement. Only
young bulls suffered a decline in conformation.
English Annual Beef Carcase Performance (MLC)
|
4L or Leaner
|
R or Better
|
R4L or Better *
|
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
All Prime Cattle
|
89%
|
90%
|
52%
|
53%
|
46%
|
48%
|
Steers
|
92%
|
93%
|
51%
|
53%
|
47%
|
49%
|
Heifers
|
80%
|
81%
|
52%
|
53%
|
42%
|
43%
|
Young Bulls
|
98%
|
98%
|
58%
|
54%
|
52%
|
53%
|
* Both leaner and better conformation
Consolidating the gains of recent years, comfortably
over 50% of all classes of carcase met the ‘R or better’ target
for conformation in 2007, while over 90% of steers and 80% of heifers
met the ‘4L or leaner’ target for finish. This underlines
the value of improved breeding and management across the national
herd.
Encouragingly too, these quality improvements were achieved at the
same time as a noticeable increase in average carcase weights for
all classes of stock. At 343 kg in 2007, steer carcases were fully
4 kg heavier than 2006 while bulls were 3kg heavier at 330 kg and
heifers 2 kg heavier at 299 kg.
Equally, the improvements were secured despite the not inconsiderable
movement and marketing disruptions of foot and mouth disease.
With over half the carcases 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
within current production constraints.
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.
Worldwide Meat Trade to Restart
Charolais - The Ultimate Terminal Sire
Aberdeen-Angus
Enjoying Mini-Export Boom
|