Abstract

The need for a N.Z. Meat Producers Board (NZMPB) supervised classification system for export carcasses has been widely debated by the farming community and elsewhere while the Producers Board Acts Reform Act (1997) has been discussed through parliament. Supervision of the export carcass classification is one of the remaining NZMPB (recently renamed Meat New Zealand) functions with the classification being undertaken by company graders. As meat companies select the carcasses most suited to provide the meat/cuts for particular meat export orders, they argue that a national carcass classification system is unnecessary. Today most carcasses are sold as cuts rather than as entire carcasses. Carcass exports provided the main reason for the initial development of a national classification system to facilitate trading overseas `sight unseen`. However carcass grading/classification also provides a common language of communication which, when associated with a payment system, allows producers to compare prices from different exporters and provides market signals as to the type of carcass most required. Export carcass classification indicates composition and yield of saleable meat. NZMPB supervising graders are seen as giving a independent check on company graders, a feature disliked by some processors but endorsed by most producers. A uniform national system as is current in New Zealand also provides good data on which to base any future production plans. If based on objective measurements, a national classification system could also be run concurrently with any company system with a computer printing out the results of both systems. It is important that producers receive back factual information on the carcasses they are growing with information on how well they fit market requirements. The recent passage of the Producer Board Acts Reform Act (1997) has noted that the compulsory carcass classification for beef is to be reviewed or phased out in one year and sheep classification system is to be reviewed in two years. Unless the Meat Industry Association agrees with their retention, they will be phased out. If this happens, it may place too much power in the hands of the industry player currently having access to most of the market information and farmers will have no way of comparing between processors.

AH, Kirton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 58, , 211-213, 1998