Australia

MEQ Probe helps increase the value of Aussie lamb

Lamb

Lamb processors and brand owners in Australia will be able to benchmark their product and ensure it meets their customer needs following commercial accreditation of an intramuscular probe that measures a key eating quality trait in lamb, announced Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Posted on Nov 17 ,10:15

MEQ Probe helps increase the value of Aussie lamb

The Australian Meat Industry Language and Standards (AMILS) committee approved the accreditation application for the MEQ Probe this week. Used in abattoirs on hot carcases at line speed, the probe provides real-time information to meat processors on intramuscular fat (IMF), an important eating quality trait. This data can be used across the supply chain to inform branding and alignment to customer specifications, and back to on-farm to producers, helping to inform decisions that drive further value in the lamb industry.

The hand-held probe has three imaging needles that are inserted into the loin muscle at the 12-13th rib of hot carcases where it undertakes a spectral analysis to predict IMF.
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Program Manager for Objective Measurement, Richard Apps, said MLA had invested with industry partners in the research and development of the Probe because of its potential to be transformational for the red meat industry.
“The commercial reality of the MEQ Probe will ensure Australia maintains its status as a global leader in red meat innovation and production – no other country is using this technology,” Mr Apps said.

“There is also a huge benefit for the lamb supply chain with the technology allowing instant feedback to producers, so they are able to ascertain the IMF within their flock and plan how to improve or maintain IMF by using tools such as Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) and more targeted nutrition.”
The accreditation of the probe also supports the commercialisation of the new Meat Standards Australia (MSA) sheepmeat cuts-based model. Based on over 10 years of research, this model will revolutionise the sheepmeat industry by enabling producers, processors and brand owners to extract further value across the supply chain through eating quality segregation. The model uses three eating quality measures, including IMF, on each carcase, to predict the eating quality of nine cut by cooking method outcomes (grill and roast) for each carcase.
MEQ Probe’s CEO, Remo Carbone said as the world’s second-largest producer of lamb, it is fitting that Australia is leading the way in creating new standards for the eating quality of meat.
“A certifiable measurement such as those generated by MEQ Probe provides opportunities across the entire lamb supply chain, from producers to retailers - but most importantly it will give assurance to consumers about the quality of the lamb they eat,” Mr Carbone said.
“The accreditation of MEQ Probe as the first grading technology to accurately measure lamb’s eating quality is a major milestone not just for us, but for Australia’s entire agtech sector. We’re excited to be pioneering this vital technology that will help differentiate our meat sector on the global stage. We’re also hugely grateful for the support of our initial clients, and for the work of industry partners such as MLA, AMPC and of course AUS-MEAT in bringing these new standards to life.”

 NEWSLETTER - Stay informed with the latest news!

Comments





Similar articles

INTERNATIONAL

Mathias Bjorge and Marel partner to build one of the world's most advanced salmon factory

Over the past one and a half years, Marel has been working on a major advancement for the Sunnm&o...


Read more Read more
INTERNATIONAL

Marel: Transform your pork deskinning with the new DeboFlex Inline Skinner

Faced with rising costs, labor shortages and a demand for higher-quality products, the pork proce...


Read more Read more
SPAIN

El Pozo begins delivery and distribution project with zero-emission electric trucks

The initiative has had the collaboration of the vehicle rental company DFM Rent a Car, which has ...


Read more Read more
Websolutions by Angular Software and SpiderClass