11 May 2007

2 minute read

Europe

The latest figures from the English Beef and Lamb Executive (Eblex) based on MLC classification reports for more than 200,000 prime cattle slaughtered in England last year, show 46 per cent were ‘R4L or better’

This compares with 41 per cent of carcases meeting the specification in 2005 and 43 per cent in 2004.

Only recently, the National Beef Association was urging abattoirs to pay better for ‘in-spec’ cattle, even if that meant caning those further out on the grid.

There have actually been year-on-year improvements in both the leanness and conformation of all three classes of cattle resulting in the best all-round carcase quality of recent years.

Heifer and young bull carcases improved the most with heifers showing especially noticeable improvements in both their leanness and conformation.

Eblex says 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 more than half of the carcases graded ‘R or better’, which it is suggested could be down to breeding improvements.

Nevertheless, it still means 48 per cent of carcases are still lacking in conformation and well over half failing to meet the preferred combined conformation and leanness. But it is possible – in the Midlands region 60 per cent were ‘R4L or better’.

The quality of lambs slaughtered and classified in English abattoirs also improved slightly. Some 57 per cent met the preferred specification – 58 per cent of new season and 56 per cent of old season lambs classifying ‘R3L or better’ over the year.

Source: Farmers Guardian