Lamb DEXA roll-out continues
22 March 2019
Australian sheepmeat producers will have greater access to objective carcase measurement data with three more lamb processing facilities set to install DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) technology.
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is supporting the installation of new lamb DEXA systems at one processing facility in Western Australia, one in New South Wales, and another in Victoria. The technology will be retro-fitted into existing lamb processing facilities.
Lamb DEXA systems are already installed at JBS Brooklyn, Victoria, and JBS Bordertown, South Australia.
DEXA technology provides timely, accurate and objective information on the lean meat, bone and fat composition of each carcase, paving the way for scientific measurement of saleable meat yield and a subsequent shift to a value-based marketing system.
MLA General Manager - MDC, Research, Development and Innovation, Sean Starling, said red meat processing facilities are keen to accelerate the adoption of the technology and unlock the many economic benefits it offers throughout the value chain.
“Those benefits include industry-wide productivity gains through lamb processing automation, genetic improvement and data-based on-farm decision making,” Mr Starling said.
“The new installations are being supported by MLA as research and development (R&D) projects because the data they generate will be used to provide commercial feedback within the respective company supply chains, and for use by MLA for other R&D purposes.
“For every DEXA system installed in a processing facility, MLA offers to support an internal resource that can engage with producers one-on-one over yield results included in feedback sheets.”
