Taumarunui seminars for beef grading information

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 7, 2 September 1988, Page 22

Taumarunui seminars for beef grading information

More than 250 farmers turned up to take part in the beef grading seminars held at the AFFCO Taumarunui plant o n Wednesday, August 24. The seminars, designed to familiarise farmers with grading changes effective from October 1, were the

first of a series to be held in all of the company's plants 6ver the next couple of months. Plant manager Ted Culley said the sessions were part of AFFCO's programme of creating a better environment for communication with farmers. The demonstrations were conducted by Meat Board senior graders

Adrian Waterhouse and Ray Adams. Continuous feedback from farmers dissatisfied with the returns from better grades and breeds of s t o c k prompted the formation of a committee to investigate possible changes, Mr Waterhouse told the farmers. The committee o f representatives from the Meat Board, MRINZ and several Ruakura scientists recognised the need to introduce another fat grade, and to react to changing market signals for leaner meat. "Over 70 per cent of all beef killed nationally falls into the P grade," he said. "Obviously that allows for a huge variation in fat content between different breeds, but under the current system farmers producing leaner animals are not receiving higher returns for better stock." "Therefore the old 'P' grade has been split into 'P' and 'K' adding another fat measurement for more accurate grading." In addition each new

grade has been broken down into one of three muscling classes to provide even greater recognition of meat yield. "Information o n killing sheets from October 1 will give producers a good indication of the quality of stock they are producing, and allow them to make adjustments accordingly," he said. Trimming will b e more extensive, t o within an inch of the underlying muscle. "While reducing the overall weight of the animal it will give a better indication o f muscle conformation," Mr Adams said. Raetihi farmer Doug Bennett felt the changes were a n important step in the right direction towards producing products that were in demand. Doug, who fattens about 80 steers each season, pointed out that fattening stock was" expensive and there was no point fattening an animal be-

yond its peak if the returns weren't there. "It's no use producing beef with lots of fat if no one wants it," he said. "Different breeds will follow different fattening patterns therefore it is up to the farmer to

recognise when his stock are ready to be killed. "These changes will work in favour of the producer if the meat companies compensate for the reduced carcase weight by rewarding for better grades of stock," he concluded.

Mr Culley took the opportunity to invite shareholders and other interested farmers to see their stock being processed, providing an opportunity to see how the company operates and gain a better understanding of the industry as a whole.