AN industry working group attached to the AusMeat Language and Standards Committee has been tasked with developing a set of standards and integrity provisions to back-up raising claims around 50 percent breed content in beef brand programs.
The issue has been a divisive and slow-moving one across the red meat industry for the past 15 months, as first raised in this Beef Central article last week.
AusMeat’s Language and Standards Committee met this morning and agreed – unanimously – to accept a 50pc raising claim on breed content, down from the current standard of 75pc used in Australian ‘Angus’ breed claims.
But the task ahead for the working party appears to be far from straightforward.
It’s anticipated that the group will report back to the Language and Standards Committee with a set of recommendations some time in the first half of 2025.
Exactly what provisions the working groups looks to embed within any 50pc breed raising claims is open to conjecture, but could include things like eating quality minimum standards aligned with Meat Standards Australia EQ Indexes. Questions yet to be answered would include how any 50pc Angus claim, for example, would accommodate say, an Angus x Hereford F1, versus an Angus x Brahman.
Again, using Angus as an example, descriptions using the word ‘Angus’ would also need to be resolved, with one or more alternatives likely (for cattle carrying only 50pc, terms like Angus Cross, or Angus F1 have been tossed up for discussion).
The possibility of using DNA testing to verify breed content may also come into focus. It’s understood DNA testing may be able to distinguish 50pc minimum breed content in up to a dozen popularly used beef breeds in Australia.
The AusMeat working group appointed to explore the provision includes representation from the Australian Lot Feeders Association, Australian Meat Industry Council, Cattle Australia, Sheep Producers and the supermarket industry.
Once the working group’s recommendations come back to the Language and Standards Committee next year, it would then be approved and built into AusMeat’s Animal Raising Claims framework, on which beef brand claims are based.
While the current focus in the breed content claims issue is squarely focussed on Angus, the broader framework would in fact cover all beef breed claims, and extend also into sheepmeat, where at least two breed-based raising claims are in the wings with brand managers.
The long-simmering issue has clearly demonstrated that breed societies are not the natural custodians of breed content description standards – where different standards could conceivably emerge for each different breed. AusMeat is the clear channel to manage breed-based raising claims to ensure consistency, and reliability across the board.
Any raising claim would typically come either directly to AusMeat, or via the Australian Meat Industry Council members as a proposed trade description, for approval by AusMeat.
We’ll follow up with an article next year on the Working Group’s recommendations.
The success of the Angus breed has been on multiple fronts.
Firstly, Angus producers have tirelessly improved the genetic traits of their animals so as to provide a better outcome for everyone in the production chain. This includes but is not limited to the areas such as fertility, weight gain, feed conversion, and marbling, just to name a few.
Secondly, and more importantly, this has provided a confidence and consistency for the consumer. This consistency and the performance of the breed and the success of the many dedicated branded programs that operate out of Australia is testimony to that.
It is an accepted fact that the success in beef competitions in Australia are dominated by Wagyu and Angus. In case the argument comparing F1 Wagyu (50% Wagyu) has been put forward. In reality, these animals are fed for 300 days plus and finally can only make it to a branded outcome through high level chiller assessment. Can there really be a comparison to something claimed to be 50% Angus crossed with a Wokatoc (multiple breed(s) & undefinable content).
I am currently feeding some “cross bred” pens of cattle and the challenge and impossibility exists to accurately validate the Breed(s) or content of such!
There are valid reasons why premiums exist for Angus over other types of cattle. It is important to recognise that with the acceptance of 50% Angus and the flood of additional eligible cattle there will be a negative pricing impact passed back down the chain.
Depending on the specifications, some 22 -25% of the carcass is trim so at the very least ¼ of the carcass will see significant price erosion over time. It is clearly evident, that individuals who have worked tirelessly to establish this success will ultimately be paid less for their dedication and hard work.
As an industry we applaud success. Sadly, we then try and pull it back to a lesser common average and pay accordingly.
Finally a friend of mine in National influential role recently said, Fitz “it really doesn’t pass the pub test”
Tony Fitzgerald.