Developing RD&E priorities Investment plan for increasing compliance to specification including information flow in Southern beef systems

Summary

Meeting consumer expectations of meat quality is critical to developing the beef industry. Maximising compliance to consumers' preferred specifications depends on all sectors in the beef supply/value chain trying to meet the preferred requirements of each purchaser. 
The aim of this report was to propose a national investment plan to increase compliance to specifications in the southern beef industry for at least the period from 2012 to 2015. This plan was prepared for consideration by the Red Meat Co-investment Committee (RMCiC). The overall outcome involved establishing priorities and industry deliverables that contributed to an increase in information flow and use of management tools that delivers an improvement in the compliance benchmark of no less than 5% over the next 5 years compared to levels benchmarked in 2010/11. This plan presented a staged RD&E strategy to further increase compliance, especially in relation to weight, fat cover and meat quality characteristics of marbling, pH and maturity. It provided a balance of research, development and extension.