Changes coming to MSA
21 March 2019
From June 2019, Meat Standards Australia (MSA) will be rolling out several changes to its model, the MSA Vendor Declaration Form and myMSA. Here’s what you need to know.
The changes will affect supply chain participants differently and MSA will be in contact with all MSA stakeholders in coming months, including cattle producers, processors, independent boning rooms and retailers.
Solid scientific foundations for changes
MSA Program Manager Sarah Strachan said the beef model updates incorporate findings from five years of research.
“The research was reviewed by the independent scientists on our MSA R&D Pathways Committee, who then recommended ways the results could be incorporated in an MSA beef model update,” Sarah said.
MSA Beef Taskforce member and Australian Lot Feeders’ Association vice president Grant Garey said the changes received “unanimous support.”
“The upgrades have been supported by the MSA Pathways R&D Committee, MSA Beef Taskforce and, importantly, the Australian Meat Industry Language Standards Committee,” Grant said.
“This support reflects the rigorous scientific evidence which demonstrates tangible benefits for those operating within the supply chain.”
What's different?
Some of the changes include:
- Hump height will be used as a direct predictor of eating quality: while hump height has always been measured as part of MSA, it will now be used as a direct predictor of eating quality rather than an estimate of tropical breed content.
- The number of ‘cut by cook’ combinations will increase from 169 to 275 this will give new secondary cut options to the foodservice industry and provide increasingly popular cooking methods such as sous vide and combi-oven roasting.
- A revised MSA Vendor Declaration Form: The Form will simplify how producers record tropical breed content and it will provide an option for owners who use agistment or custom feeding to receive direct carcase feedback through the myMSA feedback portal.
MSA-registered producers will not need to instantly transition to the new MSA Declaration Form when it becomes available. Earlier versions of the MSA Declaration will be accepted until producers run out of their current versions.
- New myMSA features and look: producers will have access to an Opportunity Index on cattle that did not meet minimum MSA grading requirements, giving producers an indication of the potential value of those carcases if they addressed the reasons for non-compliance. Users will also notice a refreshed, more user-friendly myMSA online portal.
What producers need to know
MSA Program Manager Sarah Strachan said that for now, MSA-registered cattle producers don’t need to do anything – just be aware that changes are coming.
“MSA will contact all MSA-registered cattle producers in coming months about the changes they’ll need to be aware of.”
Industry endorses customer focus
MSA Beef Taskforce member and Cattle Council of Australia director David Hill said the changes will ensure the model maintains a high level of accuracy, based on the latest scientific evidence.
“The upgrades will give everyone in the supply chain – especially the customer – confidence that the model continues to deliver what is, without doubt, the best beef eating-quality grading program in the world.
More information
MSA will contact all registered MSA-registered cattle producers and MSA-licenced supply chain participants in coming months with more details on the changes.
