THE penalties within Australia's meat grading system for hump height have long been a contentious issue among Brahman breeders but it might be time to lay down arms.
The consumer testing science on the links between hump height and eating quality are unequivocal and more and more northern Brahman breeders are showing consistently grading Meat Standards Australia is achievable.
While the Australian Brahman Breeders' Association continues to negotiate with MSA's managers on changing the term 'hump height' to something along the lines of 'tropical content indicator', junior vice president Matthew Noakes urged producers to embrace MSA and look for the pathways to make it pay.
The thinking is the term 'hump height' perhaps singles out Brahmans in a negative way.
However, there are still 'absolutely opportunities' for Brahmans to receive MSA premiums, according to Mr Noakes.
Hump height is one of numerous attributes used to predict the eating quality of cuts in a beef, along with things like carcase weight, hormone growth promotant status, carcase hang method, marbling, ribfat and ultimate pH.
Poor performance in any one of the measurements will have a negative impact on eating quality.
There are 14 measurements collected on every carcase to predict eating quality. First, animals have to meet MSA compliance. This is ultimate pH below 5.71, minimum rib fat of 3mm, adequate fat coverage across the entire carcase, plus the meeting of pre-slaughter requirements.
Calpastatin
Without a doubt, the success of the northern Australia beef industry was due to the introduction of the Brahman breed, MSA program manager David Packer told the most recent ABBA conference, held in Brisbane in August.
This was due to how the breed had adapted to tropical conditions, could handle nutritional, environmental and climatic extremes and its pest tolerance.
Part of the mechanism that has allowed Bos indicus cattle to survive so well is increased calpastatin activity - an inhibitor of calpains, the enzymes responsible for muscle breakdown.
In a live animal, that means less muscle turnover, leading to lower energy requirements, which is what makes them so efficient, Dr Packer said.
As Bos indicus content increases so too does calpastatin activity.
While calpastatin leads to greater efficiency in a live animal, in a post mortem carcase it leads to a negative eating quality outcome through slowing the ageing process.
Because Bos indicus percentage can not be genetically measured at commercial speed and cost in the MSA model, hump height is used.
Hump height, in conjunction with hot standard carcase weight and sex, was a direct predictor for eating qulaity, Dr Packer said.
The larger the hump in relation to the weight of the carcase, the more negative the impact on eating quality.
An animal with a lower hump-to-weight ratio, compared to one with a higher hump-to-weight ratio, has less impact on eating quality.
Dr Packer said consumer sensory testing undoubtedly demonstrated the negative relationship between hump height and eating quality.
The MSA model was underpinned by 1.2 million beef samples taste tested by untrained consumers from all over the world.
"From this research, we know how the relationship works between changes in the carcase and the consumer sensory samples - not just for hump height but for all measured traits," Dr Packer said.
In relation to hump height, Dr Packer said the eating quality impact was not equal across the carcase.
The major negative effect is on the high value cuts that predominately have a higher ageing potential, such as the striploin and cube roll, but also on other cuts such as the tenderloin and oyster blade.
There is minimal effect on cuts with lower ageing and higher levels of connective tissue, including the brisket, topside, outside flat and the eye round.
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Nutrition and genetics
The positive story, according to both Dr Packer and Mr Noakes, is there are definite opportunities for Bos indicus cattle to receive MSA premiums.
The factors that influence eating quality are controlled by nutrition and genetics, Dr Packer said.
"Prioritising nutrition for weaners all the way through to slaughter is probably one of the most important things for a successful outcome - at least 0.6 kilograms a day is the target," he said.
Mr Noakes said those Brahman breeders who had gone down the MSA path had done well from the premiums available.
"A 60 per cent compliance rate is a good result and the premiums are high enough for that still to have enough value to be worth chasing," he said.
"There are many measurements used in MSA and hump height is only one. HGP status, for example, has a similar impact to high Bos indicus content.
"It is not discriminatory - it's reality and science.
"Brahman breeders should embrace it because it is the best grading system in the world and under the right conditions, Brahmans can, and do, grade MSA."
How is hump height measured?
A ruler is held parallel with the surface of the sawn chine perpendicular to the first thoracic vertebrae. It is moved the position of the greatest hump width.
Hump height is measured by an MSA accredited grader and is recorded in gradients of 5mm.
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Shan Goodwin
Shan Goodwin steers ACM’s national coverage of the beef industry. Shan has worked as a journalist for 30 years, the majority of that with agricultural publications. She spent many years as The Land’s North Coast reporter and has visited beef properties and stations throughout the country and overseas. She treats all breeds equally. Contact 0427686187. E: s.goodwin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Shan Goodwin steers ACM’s national coverage of the beef industry. Shan has worked as a journalist for 30 years, the majority of that with agricultural publications. She spent many years as The Land’s North Coast reporter and has visited beef properties and stations throughout the country and overseas. She treats all breeds equally. Contact 0427686187. E: s.goodwin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
