Janine hits the carcase judging trail

Forecasts are for a hot summer and autumn, but MLA's Janine Lau will be keeping pretty cool in the coming months.

Janine, Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Research and Development and Integrity Manager, has been appointed as judge of the Beef Australia 2018 ANZ National Carcase Competition and between now and 1 April, will visit 21 processing facilities to grade the entries.

A MSA senior grader, Janine first took on the judging task for the event at Beef Australia 2015, but the 2018 event will see the introduction of new yield prediction analysis (meaning more accurate yield feedback).

"The last competition introduced the MSA Index to measure the eating quality component – this time we will add yield prediction," she said, adding this would offer entrants the chance to see just how futuristic carcase feedback systems would work.

It's expected that more than 500 head will be judged for the competition, with specific kill dates nominated by processors to fit with periods of grass and grainfed turn-off. Janine will carry out judging in every state.

"The competition guidelines have been created embracing the latest science, which makes it really exciting," she said.

"It's a great opportunity to benchmark your herd against the best in the country."

Winners will be announced at an awards dinner at the MLA-supported Beef Australia 2018. It will be the 11th Beef Australia in the event's 30 year history and will be held at Rockhampton from 6–12 May.

More than 90,000 people attended the 2015 event and 2018 is shaping up to be even bigger, with more than 500 sites sold out for the trade fair and a range of highlights being organised, including social functions, symposiums and seminars and celebrity chef cooking demonstrations.

More information

To find out more, head to Beef Australia 2018.