The new extended Meat Standards Australia supply protocol allowing up to 48 hours from farm to processing for direct consignment cattle is now a reality.

Last month, the MSA Beef Taskforce meeting approved the redefinition of the current MSA slaughter time requirement to a protocol allowing 48 hours from farm to processing, providing that cattle do not spend more than 36 hours in road transport, which can include a rest period up to 12 hours within this time.

This new protocol is now effective for MSA producers and included in the latest MSA standards for processors.

At the same time, the research report on the impact of cattle transport duration on MSA eating quality is now available online.

Conducted by researchers from the University of New England and Polkinghorne's Pty Ltd, the project tested the effect of four cattle truck transport treatments on sensory and objective measurements of meat quality.

The research found no treatment difference in eating quality, live animal, carcase, blood, urine or objective traits for four truck transport times ranging from 12 to 36 hours from property to the abattoir.

Read the final report on how transport duration effects MSA eating quality

Read Beef Central's April 12, 2013 report announcing the MSA window extension 

Source: MLA