It has been a long time coming, but meat processors are now getting ready to pay premiums for lambs with more meat in the key-cut areas.
Alliance now has the technology to identify those animals that qualify for the extra payments, with its Australian VIAscan system, reports Jon Morgan in the DomPost. And Silver Fern Farms is expected to follow but with different x-ray scanning technology.
"It's the next big step in sheep production," said a geneticist with AgResearch. "It's been a slow train coming but it's nearly here."
And it is reported to be changing the breeding choices of producers.
Trials had found that high lean meat yield could not be determined by eye. In one trial of two similar-looking lambs, both weighing the same, one was found to have an 8 per cent higher yield.
"The big difference is seen in the fat cover of the carcass. The high-yielding lambs tend to be shorter and stockier," she said.
Improving meat yields was not just down to genetics but also to the environment the lambs were raised in, such as topography, climate, feeding, age of the dam and date of birth of the lamb.
"These have a lot of influence on growth. Genetics also has a role. We need to optimise both."
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.